Cis-regulatory architecture downstream of FLOWERING LOCUS T underlies quantitative control of flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Zhou HR, Doan DTH, Hartwig T, Turck F
Crispr
PubMedUnderstanding exactly how plants decide when to flower could help breeders develop crops that bloom at the right time regardless of climate disruptions, ensuring more reliable harvests of fruits, vegetables, and seeds for gardeners and farmers alike.
Every plant has an internal calendar that tells it when to flower, and a gene called 'Flowering Locus T' is like the main alarm clock. Scientists used precise genetic scissors to cut and study tiny stretches of DNA near this gene, discovering that a very small piece — just 63 DNA letters long — is the critical on/off switch that sets the alarm. Even more surprising, a 'hidden' switch nearby can wake up and take over if moved to the right spot, showing that where these switches sit in the DNA is just as important as what they do.
Key Findings
A 2.3-kb DNA region downstream of the FT gene is essential for proper flowering time in Arabidopsis, with a core functional module of just 63 base pairs containing one CCAAT-box and one G-box driving most of this effect.
A cryptic (normally silent) regulatory module downstream of the main enhancer can become active when repositioned, accompanied by increased protein binding and more open chromatin structure.
The spatial organization and chromosomal context of these downstream control elements — not just their sequence — governs the precise, quantitative level of FT gene expression and therefore flowering time.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists have mapped the precise genetic 'switches' that control when flowering mustard plants bloom, finding that a small 63-base-pair DNA segment acts as the master timing dial for the flowering signal. This work reveals how plants fine-tune the timing of flower production through the physical arrangement of DNA control elements.
Abstract Preview
The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene is a central integrator of floral induction in Arabidopsis thaliana, with its precise expression controlled by complex transcriptional networks. While upstream regul...
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Arabidopsis thaliana, the thale cress, mouse-ear cress or arabidopsis, is a small plant from the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia and Africa. Commonly found along the shoulders of roads and in disturbed land, it is generally considered a weed.