Comparative analysis of transcription factor binding from a master flowering regulator across annual and perennial species

MATEOS, J. L.; TILMES, V; MADRIGAL, P; COUPLAND, G

Congreso; 11th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology; 2015

The time of flowering is an important adaptive trait allowing plants to maximize the number of progeny produced at different locations and in diverse environments. In addition, plant species can either be annual, in which case they live for only one year and flower once in their life time, or perennial, whereby they live for many years and flower repeatedly. The mechanisms underlying these regulatory pathwys are best understood in the annual model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Relatives of A. thaliana are perennials, and of these Arabis alpina has been recently characterized at the genetic level. The FLC transcription factor is a repressor of transcription and in both of these species mutations in the gene have strong effects on flowering. By using next generation sequencing technologies we compare the genes repressed by FLC in A. thaliana and A. alpina and identify the binding sites of this transcription factor across the genomes of both species. By combining the expression data and binding site information, targets in both species were identified. This comparative approach will indicate whether evolution between perennial and annual in this family of flowering plants involves alterations in the binding sites and gene regulation by FLC.