The fully linked HTML version of this article has now been published.
Development ePress online publication date 30 Jun 2004
doi: 10.1242/dev.01231
Research article
CONSTANS acts in the phloem to regulate a systemic signal that induces photoperiodic flowering of Arabidopsis
Hailong An,
Clotilde Roussot,
Paula Suárez-López,
Laurent Corbesier,
Coral Vincent,
Manuel Piñeiro,
Shelley Hepworth,
Aidyn Mouradov,
Samuel Justin,
Colin Turnbull,
and
George Coupland*
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: coupland{at}mpiz-koeln.mpg.de)
Flower development at the shoot apex is initiated in response to environmental cues. Day length is one of the most important of these and is perceived in the leaves. A systemic signal, called the floral stimulus or florigen, is then transmitted from the leaves through the phloem and induces floral development at the shoot apex. Genetic analysis in Arabidopsis identified a pathway of genes required for the initiation of flowering in response to day length. The nuclear zinc-finger protein CONSTANS (CO) plays a central role in this pathway, and in response to long days activates the transcription of FT, which encodes a RAF-kinase-inhibitor-like protein. We show using grafting approaches that CO acts non-cell autonomously to trigger flowering. Although CO is expressed widely, its misexpression from phloem-specific promoters, but not from meristem-specific promoters, is sufficient to induce early flowering and complement the co mutation. The mechanism by which CO triggers flowering from the phloem involves the cell-autonomous activation of FT expression. Genetic approaches indicate that CO activates flowering through both FT-dependent and FT-independent processes, whereas FT acts both in the phloem and the meristem to trigger flowering. We propose that, partly through the activation of FT, CO regulates the synthesis or transport of a systemic flowering signal, thereby positioning this signal within the established hierarchy of regulatory proteins that controls flowering.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. Schmitt, R. Stadler, and N. Sauer
Immunolocalization of Solanaceous SUT1 Proteins in Companion Cells and Xylem Parenchyma: New Perspectives for Phloem Loading and Transport
Plant Physiology,
September 1, 2008;
148(1):
187 - 199.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Knight, A. J.W. Thomson, and H. G. McWatters
SENSITIVE TO FREEZING6 Integrates Cellular and Environmental Inputs to the Plant Circadian Clock
Plant Physiology,
September 1, 2008;
148(1):
293 - 303.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L.-J. Liu, Y.-C. Zhang, Q.-H. Li, Y. Sang, J. Mao, H.-L. Lian, L. Wang, and H.-Q. Yang
COP1-Mediated Ubiquitination of CONSTANS Is Implicated in Cryptochrome Regulation of Flowering in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
February 1, 2008;
20(2):
292 - 306.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Ruonala, P. L.H. Rinne, J. Kangasjarvi, and C. van der Schoot
CENL1 Expression in the Rib Meristem Affects Stem Elongation and the Transition to Dormancy in Populus
PLANT CELL,
January 1, 2008;
20(1):
59 - 74.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Para, E. M. Farre, T. Imaizumi, J. L. Pruneda-Paz, F. G. Harmon, and S. A. Kay
PRR3 Is a Vascular Regulator of TOC1 Stability in the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock
PLANT CELL,
November 1, 2007;
19(11):
3462 - 3473.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Kobayashi and D. Weigel
Move on up, it's time for change mobile signals controlling photoperiod-dependent flowering
Genes & Dev.,
October 1, 2007;
21(19):
2371 - 2384.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Hayama, B. Agashe, E. Luley, R. King, and G. Coupland
A Circadian Rhythm Set by Dusk Determines the Expression of FT Homologs and the Short-Day Photoperiodic Flowering Response in Pharbitis
PLANT CELL,
October 1, 2007;
19(10):
2988 - 3000.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
X. Cai, J. Ballif, S. Endo, E. Davis, M. Liang, D. Chen, D. DeWald, J. Kreps, T. Zhu, and Y. Wu
A Putative CCAAT-Binding Transcription Factor Is a Regulator of Flowering Timing in Arabidopsis
Plant Physiology,
September 1, 2007;
145(1):
98 - 105.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Hecht, C. L. Knowles, J. K. Vander Schoor, L. C. Liew, S. E. Jones, M. J.M. Lambert, and J. L. Weller
Pea LATE BLOOMER1 Is a GIGANTEA Ortholog with Roles in Photoperiodic Flowering, Deetiolation, and Transcriptional Regulation of Circadian Clock Gene Homologs
Plant Physiology,
June 1, 2007;
144(2):
648 - 661.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Corbesier, C. Vincent, S. Jang, F. Fornara, Q. Fan, I. Searle, A. Giakountis, S. Farrona, L. Gissot, C. Turnbull, et al.
FT Protein Movement Contributes to Long-Distance Signaling in Floral Induction of Arabidopsis
Science,
May 18, 2007;
316(5827):
1030 - 1033.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Tamaki, S. Matsuo, H. L. Wong, S. Yokoi, and K. Shimamoto
Hd3a Protein Is a Mobile Flowering Signal in Rice
Science,
May 18, 2007;
316(5827):
1033 - 1036.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
N. A. Eckardt
Phloem-Borne FT Signals Flowering in Cucurbits
PLANT CELL,
May 1, 2007;
19(5):
1435 - 1438.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Faure, J. Higgins, A. Turner, and D. A. Laurie
The FLOWERING LOCUS T-Like Gene Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Genetics,
May 1, 2007;
176(1):
599 - 609.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M.-K. Lin, H. Belanger, Y.-J. Lee, E. Varkonyi-Gasic, K.-I. Taoka, E. Miura, B. Xoconostle-Cazares, K. Gendler, R. A. Jorgensen, B. Phinney, et al.
FLOWERING LOCUS T Protein May Act as the Long-Distance Florigenic Signal in the Cucurbits
PLANT CELL,
May 1, 2007;
19(5):
1488 - 1506.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Conti and D. Bradley
TERMINAL FLOWER1 Is a Mobile Signal Controlling Arabidopsis Architecture
PLANT CELL,
March 1, 2007;
19(3):
767 - 778.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Ikeda, Y. Kobayashi, A. Yamaguchi, M. Abe, and T. Araki
Molecular Basis of Late-Flowering Phenotype Caused by Dominant Epi-Alleles of the FWA Locus in Arabidopsis
Plant Cell Physiol.,
February 1, 2007;
48(2):
205 - 220.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Endo, N. Mochizuki, T. Suzuki, and A. Nagatani
CRYPTOCHROME2 in Vascular Bundles Regulates Flowering in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
January 1, 2007;
19(1):
84 - 93.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Wenkel, F. Turck, K. Singer, L. Gissot, J. Le Gourrierec, A. Samach, and G. Coupland
CONSTANS and the CCAAT Box Binding Complex Share a Functionally Important Domain and Interact to Regulate Flowering of Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
November 1, 2006;
18(11):
2971 - 2984.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Lifschitz and Y. Eshed
Universal florigenic signals triggered by FT homologues regulate growth and flowering cycles in perennial day-neutral tomato
J. Exp. Bot.,
October 1, 2006;
57(13):
3405 - 3414.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Corbesier and G. Coupland
The quest for florigen: a review of recent progress
J. Exp. Bot.,
October 1, 2006;
57(13):
3395 - 3403.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. A.D. Zeevaart
Florigen coming of age after 70 years.
PLANT CELL,
August 1, 2006;
18(8):
1783 - 1789.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C.-Y. Hsu, Y. Liu, D. S. Luthe, and C. Yuceer
Poplar FT2 Shortens the Juvenile Phase and Promotes Seasonal Flowering
PLANT CELL,
August 1, 2006;
18(8):
1846 - 1861.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Brand, M. Horler, E. Nuesch, S. Vassalli, P. Barrell, W. Yang, R. A. Jefferson, U. Grossniklaus, and M. D. Curtis
A Versatile and Reliable Two-Component System for Tissue-Specific Gene Induction in Arabidopsis
Plant Physiology,
August 1, 2006;
141(4):
1194 - 1204.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. W. King, T. Moritz, L. T. Evans, J. Martin, C. H. Andersen, C. Blundell, I. Kardailsky, and P. M. Chandler
Regulation of Flowering in the Long-Day Grass Lolium temulentum by Gibberellins and the FLOWERING LOCUS T Gene
Plant Physiology,
June 1, 2006;
141(2):
498 - 507.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Lifschitz, T. Eviatar, A. Rozman, A. Shalit, A. Goldshmidt, Z. Amsellem, J. P. Alvarez, and Y. Eshed
The tomato FT ortholog triggers systemic signals that regulate growth and flowering and substitute for diverse environmental stimuli
PNAS,
April 18, 2006;
103(16):
6398 - 6403.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
I. Searle, Y. He, F. Turck, C. Vincent, F. Fornara, S. Krober, R. A. Amasino, and G. Coupland
The transcription factor FLC confers a flowering response to vernalization by repressing meristem competence and systemic signaling in Arabidopsis.
Genes & Dev.,
April 1, 2006;
20(7):
898 - 912.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Ciannamea, J. Busscher-Lange, S. de Folter, G. C. Angenent, and R. G. H. Immink
Characterization of the Vernalization Response in Lolium perenne by a cDNA Microarray Approach
Plant Cell Physiol.,
April 1, 2006;
47(4):
481 - 492.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Tooke, M. Ordidge, T. Chiurugwi, and N. Battey
Mechanisms and function of flower and inflorescence reversion
J. Exp. Bot.,
October 1, 2005;
56(420):
2587 - 2599.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. Teper-Bamnolker and A. Samach
The Flowering Integrator FT Regulates SEPALLATA3 and FRUITFULL Accumulation in Arabidopsis Leaves
PLANT CELL,
October 1, 2005;
17(10):
2661 - 2675.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. K. Yoo, K. S. Chung, J. Kim, J. H. Lee, S. M. Hong, S. J. Yoo, S. Y. Yoo, J. S. Lee, and J. H. Ahn
CONSTANS Activates SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 through FLOWERING LOCUS T to Promote Flowering in Arabidopsis
Plant Physiology,
October 1, 2005;
139(2):
770 - 778.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Huang, H. Bohlenius, S. Eriksson, F. Parcy, and O. Nilsson
The mRNA of the Arabidopsis Gene FT Moves from Leaf to Shoot Apex and Induces Flowering
Science,
September 9, 2005;
309(5741):
1694 - 1696.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Abe, Y. Kobayashi, S. Yamamoto, Y. Daimon, A. Yamaguchi, Y. Ikeda, H. Ichinoki, M. Notaguchi, K. Goto, and T. Araki
FD, a bZIP Protein Mediating Signals from the Floral Pathway Integrator FT at the Shoot Apex
Science,
August 12, 2005;
309(5737):
1052 - 1056.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. A. Wigge, M. C. Kim, K. E. Jaeger, W. Busch, M. Schmid, J. U. Lohmann, and D. Weigel
Integration of Spatial and Temporal Information During Floral Induction in Arabidopsis
Science,
August 12, 2005;
309(5737):
1056 - 1059.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Mizoguchi, L. Wright, S. Fujiwara, F. Cremer, K. Lee, H. Onouchi, A. Mouradov, S. Fowler, H. Kamada, J. Putterill, et al.
Distinct Roles of GIGANTEA in Promoting Flowering and Regulating Circadian Rhythms in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL,
August 1, 2005;
17(8):
2255 - 2270.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Yamaguchi, Y. Kobayashi, K. Goto, M. Abe, and T. Araki
TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF) Acts as a Floral Pathway Integrator Redundantly with FT
Plant Cell Physiol.,
August 1, 2005;
46(8):
1175 - 1189.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Imaizumi, T. F. Schultz, F. G. Harmon, L. A. Ho, and S. A. Kay
FKF1 F-Box Protein Mediates Cyclic Degradation of a Repressor of CONSTANS in Arabidopsis
Science,
July 8, 2005;
309(5732):
293 - 297.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Endo, S. Nakamura, T. Araki, N. Mochizuki, and A. Nagatani
Phytochrome B in the Mesophyll Delays Flowering by Suppressing FLOWERING LOCUS T Expression in Arabidopsis Vascular Bundles
PLANT CELL,
July 1, 2005;
17(7):
1941 - 1952.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Hay and M. Tsiantis
From genes to plants via meristems
Development,
June 15, 2005;
132(12):
2679 - 2684.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Zhao, J. C. Craig, H. E. Petzold, A. W. Dickerman, and E. P. Beers
The Xylem and Phloem Transcriptomes from Secondary Tissues of the Arabidopsis Root-Hypocotyl
Plant Physiology,
June 1, 2005;
138(2):
803 - 818.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Hanzawa, T. Money, and D. Bradley
A single amino acid converts a repressor to an activator of flowering
PNAS,
May 24, 2005;
102(21):
7748 - 7753.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. Hecht, F. Foucher, C. Ferrandiz, R. Macknight, C. Navarro, J. Morin, M. E. Vardy, N. Ellis, J. P. Beltran, C. Rameau, et al.
Conservation of Arabidopsis Flowering Genes in Model Legumes
Plant Physiology,
April 1, 2005;
137(4):
1420 - 1434.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S.-I Lin, J.-G. Wang, S.-Y. Poon, C.-l. Su, S.-S. Wang, and T.-J. Chiou
Differential Regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C Expression by Vernalization in Cabbage and Arabidopsis
Plant Physiology,
March 1, 2005;
137(3):
1037 - 1048.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2004