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AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 3 integrates the functions of AGAMOUS and APETALA 2 in floral meristem determinacy
Author(s) -
Liu Xigang,
Dinh Thanh Theresa,
Li Dongming,
Shi Bihai,
Li Yongpeng,
Cao Xiuwei,
Guo Lin,
Pan Yanyun,
Jiao Yuling,
Chen Xuemei
Publication year - 2014
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/tpj.12658
Subject(s) - agamous , determinacy , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , auxin , meristem , arabidopsis , genetics , psychological repression , gene , gene expression , mutant , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Summary In Arabidopsis, AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 3 ( ARF 3) belongs to the auxin response factor ( ARF ) family that regulates the expression of auxin‐responsive genes. ARF 3 is known to function in leaf polarity specification and gynoecium patterning. In this study, we discovered a previously unknown role for ARF 3 in floral meristem ( FM ) determinacy through the isolation and characterization of a mutant of ARF 3 that enhanced the FM determinacy defects of agamous (ag)‐10 , a weak ag allele. Central players in FM determinacy include WUSCHEL ( WUS ), a gene critical for FM maintenance, and AG and APETALA 2 ( AP 2 ), which regulate FM determinacy by repression and promotion of WUS expression, respectively. We showed that ARF 3 confers FM determinacy through repression of WUS expression, and associates with the WUS locus in part in an AG ‐dependent manner. We demonstrated that ARF 3 is a direct target of AP 2 and partially mediates AP 2 's function in FM determinacy. ARF 3 exhibits dynamic and complex expression patterns in floral organ primordia; altering the patterns spatially compromised FM determinacy. This study uncovered a role for ARF 3 in FM determinacy and revealed relationships among genes in the genetic network governing FM determinacy.