Molecular variation in a functionally divergent homolog of FCA regulates flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana

第一作者：Yunhe Wang

第一单位：安徽农业大学

通讯作者：Peijin Li

 Abstract 

研究背景：The identification and functional characterization of natural variants in plants are essential for understanding phenotypic adaptation.

主要发现：Here we identify a molecular variation in At2g47310 that contributes to the natural variation in flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions.

结果1-FCA拮抗基因SSF：This gene, which we term SISTER of FCA (SSF), functions in an antagonistic manner to its close homolog FCA.

结果2-SSF与FLC表达：Genome-wide association analysis screens two major haplotypes of SSF associated with the natural variation in FLC expression, and a single polymorphism, SSF-N414D, is identified as a main contributor.

结果3-SSF与CUL1互作：The SSF414N protein variant interacts more strongly with CUL1, a component of the E3 ubiquitination complex, than the SSF414D form, mediating differences in SSF protein degradation and FLC expression.

结果4-FAC与SSF起源：FCA and SSF appear to have arisen through gene duplication after dicot-monocot divergence, with the SSF-N414D polymorphism emerging relatively recently within A. thaliana. 

结论：This work provides a good example for deciphering the functional importance of natural polymorphisms in different organisms.

 通讯作者 

doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19666-0

Journal: Nature Communications

Published date: Nov 17, 2020