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  • Arabidopsis florigen FT binds to diurnally oscillating phospholipids that accelerate flowering.

Arabidopsis florigen FT binds to diurnally oscillating phospholipids that accelerate flowering.

Nature communications (2014-04-05)
Yuki Nakamura, Fernando Andrés, Kazue Kanehara, Yu-chi Liu, Peter Dörmann, George Coupland
ABSTRACT

Arabidopsis FT protein is a component of florigen, which transmits photoperiodic flowering signals from leaf companion cells to the shoot apex. Here, we show that FT specifically binds phosphatidylcholine (PC) in vitro. A transgenic approach to increase PC levels in vivo in the shoot meristem accelerates flowering whereas reduced PC levels delay flowering, demonstrating that PC levels are correlated with flowering time. The early flowering is related to FT activity, because expression of FT-effector genes is increased in these plants. Simultaneous increase of FT and PC in the shoot apical meristem further stimulates flowering, whereas a loss of FT function leads to an attenuation of the effect of increased PC. Specific molecular species of PC oscillate diurnally, and night-dominant species are not the preferred ligands of FT. Elevating night-dominant species during the day delays flowering. We suggest that FT binds to diurnally changing molecular species of PC to promote flowering.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Monoclonal Anti-polyHistidine antibody produced in mouse, clone HIS-1, ascites fluid
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Mouse IgG (Fab specific)–Peroxidase antibody produced in goat, affinity isolated antibody, buffered aqueous solution