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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Plant Gene Expression Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253419
Title: The maize SBP-box transcription factor encoded by tasselsheath4 regulates bract development and the establishment of meristem boundaries

Author
item CHUCK, GEORGE - University Of California
item WHIPPLE, CLINTON - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
item JACKSON, DAVID - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
item Hake, Sarah

Submitted to: Development
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2010
Publication Date: 4/15/2010
Citation: Chuck, G., Whipple, C., Jackson, D., Hake, S.C. 2010. The maize SBP-box transcription factor encoded by tasselsheath4 regulates bract development and the establishment of meristem boundaries. Development. 137(8):1243-1250.

Interpretive Summary: Plant architecture consists of repeating units called phytomers, each containing an internode, leaf and axillary meristem. The formation of boundaries within the phytomer is necessary to differentiate and separate these three components, otherwise some will grow at the expense of others. The microRNA-targeted SBP-box transcription factor tasselsheath4 (tsh4) plays an essential role in establishing these boundaries within the inflorescence. Downregulation of TSH4 by a combination of microRNAs and branching pathway genes allows the establishment of lateral meristems and the repression of leaf initiation, thereby playing a major role in defining meristem versus leaf boundaries.

Technical Abstract: We identified mutations in the SBP-box transcription factor and found they had a phenotype of leaves in the tassel. Double-mutant analyses of tsh4 and several highly branched mutants, such as ramosa1-3 and branched silkless1, demonstrated a requirement for tsh4 in branch meristem initiation and maintenance. TSH4 protein, however, was localized throughout the inflorescence stem and at the base of lateral meristems, but not within the meristem itself. Double labeling of TSH4 with the ramosa2, branched silkless1 and knotted1 meristem markers confirmed that TSH4 forms a boundary adjacent to all lateral meristems. Double labeling of miR156 showed a meristem-specific pattern complementary to that of TSH4, consistent with tsh4 being negatively regulated by this microRNA.