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Abstract:
The timing of the floral transition is one of an important quantitative trait in
the natural field. Extensive molecular genetic studies have revealed pivotal
regulatory factors controlling flowering-time, and distinct or integrated
pathways for flowering. However, little is known about how such a regulatory
network has been maintained and adapted under the natural conditions.
Naturally occurring variation refers to phenotypic and/or genetic differences
in natural populations. Since such a variation is assumed to be a
trait maintained in the natural habitats, it has been focused on as a case for
evolutionary genetic studies.
We have taken a sequence-based approach, focusing on the floweringtime
gene CONSTANS (CO), to identify potentially interesting natural variants.
CO encodes a putative transcription factor, carrying three functionally separated
domains: B-box domain (zinc finger-like), CCT domain (containing NLS
region), and putative transcriptional activation domain.
So far, we have screened the entire transcribed region of CO (5’UTR,
cds, intron, and 3’UTR) from more than 150 natural accessions, and found
several candidates for functional variants. These studies were guided by
the identification of residues that are conserved in CO homologues in both
Arabidopsis and other species. Characterization of these candidate variants
will be presented.
