Characterization of MADS-domain Transcription Factor Complexes in Arabidopsis Flower Development

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2012 Jan 13

PMID 22238427

Citations 224

Authors

Cezary Smaczniak

Richard G H Immink

Jose M Muino

Robert Blanvillain

Marco Busscher

Jacqueline Busscher-Lange

Q D Peter Dinh

Shujing Liu

Adrie H Westphal

Sjef Boeren

Francois Parcy

Lin Xu

Cristel C Carles

Gerco C Angenent

Kerstin Kaufmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Floral organs are specified by the combinatorial action of MADS-domain transcription factors, yet the mechanisms by which MADS-domain proteins activate or repress the expression of their target genes and the nature of their cofactors are still largely unknown. Here, we show using affinity purification and mass spectrometry that five major floral homeotic MADS-domain proteins (AP1, AP3, PI, AG, and SEP3) interact in floral tissues as proposed in the "floral quartet" model. In vitro studies confirmed a flexible composition of MADS-domain protein complexes depending on relative protein concentrations and DNA sequence. In situ bimolecular fluorescent complementation assays demonstrate that MADS-domain proteins interact during meristematic stages of flower development. By applying a targeted proteomics approach we were able to establish a MADS-domain protein interactome that strongly supports a mechanistic link between MADS-domain proteins and chromatin remodeling factors. Furthermore, members of other transcription factor families were identified as interaction partners of floral MADS-domain proteins suggesting various specific combinatorial modes of action.

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