The overexpression of GZF1 generates branched phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana

BELLINO C.D.; REINHEIMER R.

Congreso; SAIB 2022; 2022

The grass family is distinguished from many species by their inflorescence architecture, whose final form is the result of a balance between the ability of the axillary meristems to form branches or terminate in spikelets. GRASS ZINC FINGER 1 (GZF1) is a Cys2-His2-type zinc finger transcription factor that seems to play a central role at this stage of maize inflorescence development. By comparison of GZF1 amino acid sequences from model and non-model grass species, we observed a partial conservation of the sequences towards the C-terminal and a variability in the number of EAR motifs. To answer if the divergence of protein sequences is correlated with a functional divergence of GZF1, we decided to generate plants of Arabidopsis thaliana that overexpressed different GZF1 sequences. In particular, we decided to work with GZF1 of three grass species: Zea mays, Setaria viridis and Cenchrus echinatus. Transgenic plants showed phenotypes composed of many orders of branching and, in some cases, the branches were fasciated and sterile. In addition, transgenic plants developed abnormal flowers and open carpels with free ovules. According to the results, we think that GZF1 may be involved in the regulation of apical and axillary meristem fate affecting the original plant architecture.