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Title: ULTRAPETALA and LEAFY pathways function independently in specifying identity and determinacy at the Arabidopsis flower meristem

Author
item ENGLEHORN, J - Grenoble Institute Of Technology
item MOREAU, F - Grenoble Institute Of Technology
item Fletcher, Jennifer
item CARLES, C - Grenoble Institute Of Technology

Submitted to: Annals of Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2014
Publication Date: 10/8/2014
Citation: Englehorn, J., Moreau, F., Fletcher, J.C., Carles, C.C. 2014. ULTRAPETALA and LEAFY pathways function independently in specifying identity and determinacy at the Arabidopsis flower meristem. Annals Of Botany. 114(7):1497-1505. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcu185.

Interpretive Summary: Floral form and function are determined by different pathways that converge on gene reguation of Agamous in the model species, Arabidopsis. Ultrapetala and Leafy regulate Agamous independently to promote differentiation of the flower.

Technical Abstract: The morphological variability of the flower in angiosperms, combined with its relatively simple structure, makes it an excellent model to study cell specification and the establishment of morphogenetic patterns. Flowers are the products of floral meristems, which are determinate structures that generate four different types of floral organs before terminating. The precise organization of the flower in whorls, each defined by the identity and number of organs it contains, is controlled by a multi-layered network involving numerous transcriptional regulators. In particular, the AGAMOUS (AG) MADS domain-containing transcription factor plays a major role in controlling floral determinacy in Arabidopsis thaliana in addition to specifying reproductive organ identity. This study aims to characterize the genetic interactions between the ULTRAPETALA1 (ULT1) and LEAFY (LFY) transcriptional regulators during flower morphogenesis, with a focus on AG regulation.