CSIRO, Agriculture, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia.
Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan.
Nat Commun. 2015 Jan 6;6:5882. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6882.
Transcription of the vernalization1 gene (VRN1) is induced by prolonged cold (vernalization) to trigger flowering of cereal crops, such as wheat and barley. VRN1 encodes a MADS box transcription factor that promotes flowering by regulating the expression of other genes. Here we use transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to identify direct targets of VRN1. Over 500 genomic regions were identified as potential VRN1-binding targets by ChIP-seq. VRN1 binds the promoter of flowering locus T-like 1, a promoter of flowering in vernalized plants. VRN1 also targets vernalization2 and ODDSOC2, repressors of flowering that are downregulated in vernalized plants. RNA-seq identified additional VRN1 targets that might play roles in triggering flowering. Other targets of VRN1 include genes that play central roles in low-temperature-induced freezing tolerance, spike architecture and hormone metabolism. This provides evidence for direct regulatory links between the vernalization response pathway and other important traits in cereal crops.
春化 1 基因(VRN1)的转录受到长时间低温(春化)的诱导,从而触发小麦和大麦等谷类作物的开花。VRN1 编码一个 MADS 框转录因子,通过调节其他基因的表达来促进开花。在这里,我们使用转录组测序(RNA-seq)和染色质免疫沉淀测序(ChIP-seq)来鉴定 VRN1 的直接靶标。通过 ChIP-seq 鉴定了超过 500 个基因组区域作为潜在的 VRN1 结合靶标。VRN1 结合开花位点 T 样 1 的启动子,该启动子在春化植物中开花。VRN1 还靶向春化 2 和 ODDSOC2,这是春化植物中下调的开花抑制剂。RNA-seq 鉴定了其他可能在触发开花中起作用的 VRN1 靶标。VRN1 的其他靶标包括在低温诱导的抗冻性、穗结构和激素代谢中起核心作用的基因。这为春化反应途径与谷类作物中其他重要性状之间的直接调节联系提供了证据。