Penfield, S., Josse, E-M., Kannangara, R. et al. (3 more authors) (2005) Cold and light control seed germination through the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA. Current Biology, 15 (22). pp. 1998-2006. ISSN 0960-9822
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Plants integrate signals from the environment and use these to modify the timing of development according to seasonal cues. Seed germination is a key example of this phenomenon and in Arabidopsis is promoted by the synergistic interaction of light and low temperatures in dormant seeds. This signaling pathway is known to converge on the regulation of the gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic genes GA3 oxidase (GA3ox), whose expression is transcriptionally induced by light and cold in imbibed seeds. However, the molecular basis of this response has until now been unknown.
RESULTS
Here we show that the bHLH transcription factor SPATULA is a light-stable repressor of seed germination and mediates the germination response to temperature. Furthermore, SPT is required in dormant seeds for maintaining the repression of GA3ox transcription. We also show that the related protein PIL5 represses seed germination and GA3ox expression in the dark.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that SPT and PIL5 form part of a regulatory network coupling seed germination and GA3ox expression to light and temperature signaling in the seed.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) |
Depositing User: | York RAE Import |
Date Deposited: | 12 Jun 2009 09:02 |
Last Modified: | 12 Jun 2009 09:02 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2005.11.010 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier (Cell Press) |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cub.2005.11.010 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:5956 |