First published online August 2, 2005
Development 132, 1602e (2005)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
RNA processor – not just flower power
In plants, the switch to flowering is a key developmental transition that
is promoted by limiting the accumulation of the floral repressor FLC. In the
autonomous flowering pathway, which is regulated by endogenous cues such as
plant size, FLC accumulation is regulated by the interaction between FCA, a
plant-specific RNA-binding protein, and FY, a conserved polyadenylation
factor. Henderson and co-workers now reveal that FY also plays essential roles
in plant development (see p.
3597). By examining a series of fy mutations in
Arabidopsis, the researchers have discovered that mutations in the N
terminus of FY cause embryonic lethality. By contrast, mutations in FY's
C-terminal domain (through which it interacts with FCA) and in its WD repeats
affect only flowering time. Thus, the researchers conclude, FY mediates both
constitutive and regulated RNA 3'-end processing.
Related articles in Development:
- An allelic series reveals essential roles for FY in plant development in addition to flowering-time control
- Ian R. Henderson, Fuquan Liu, Sinead Drea, Gordon G. Simpson, and Caroline Dean
Development 2005 132: 3597-3607.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
