GATA25, a novel regulator, accelerates the flowering time of Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

AbstractIntrinsic and exogenous signals in conjunction precisely regulate the initiation of flowering. Both signals influence flowering time, which is an integral part of plant reproduction. The signals converge through different pathways, and their coordinated action leads to the onset of flowering. Genetic pathways related to the regulation of flowering time are well-known from research into the molecular genetics of Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, crucial components of the photoperiodic pathway and floral integrators play a critically significant role in flowering. In this study, we found that GATA25 is a novel transcription factor that accelerates flowering time under long days. GATA25 encodes C-X2-C-X20-C-X2-C conserved cysteine residues of the zinc-finger domain and CCT domain which process photoperiodic flowering and regulate circadian rhythms. Flowering was accelerated by overexpression of GATA25 throughout the Arabidopsis thaliana. In contrast, GATA25 fused to SRDX (SUPERMAN repressive domain X)-motif plants showed delayed flowering. We also demonstrated that GATA25 induced the expression of floral integrator genes and photoperiodic pathway-related genes. Together, these results suggest that GATA25 might act to accelerate flowering time.