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Targeted inactivation of transcription factors by overexpression of their truncated forms in plants
Author(s) -
Seo Pil Joon,
Hong ShinYoung,
Ryu Jae Yong,
Jeong EunYoung,
Kim SangGyu,
Baldwin Ian T.,
Park ChungMo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2012.05069.x
Subject(s) - transcription factor , biology , arabidopsis , agamous , gene , myb , mutant , transcription (linguistics) , promoter , genetics , mads box , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , gene expression , linguistics , philosophy
Summary Transcription factors are central constituents of gene regulatory networks that control diverse aspects of plant development and environmental adaptability. Therefore they have been explored for decades as primary targets for agricultural biotechnology. A gene of interest can readily be introduced into many crop plants, whereas targeted gene inactivation is practically difficult in many cases. Here, we developed an artificial small interfering peptide (a‐siPEP) approach, which is based on overexpression of specific protein domains, and evaluated its application for the targeted inactivation of transcription factors in the dicot model, Arabidopsis, and monocot model, Brachypodium . We designed potential a‐siPEPs of two representative MADS box transcription factors, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSOR OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) and AGAMOUS (AG), and a MYB transcription factor, LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY). Transgenic plants overproducing the a‐siPEPs displayed phenotypes comparable to those of gene‐deficient mutants. The a‐siPEPs attenuate nuclear import and DNA‐binding of target transcription factors. Our data demonstrate that the a‐siPEP tool is an efficient genetic means of inactivating specific transcription factors in plants.