Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Floral Induction

互补的分子和遗传方法将用于鉴定和表征拟南芥花诱导的新成分。花诱导是由一个鲜为人知的过程控制的向开花的过渡，涉及至少三个主要途径：长日依赖途径，赤霉素（GA）依赖途径和自主途径。具体来说，拟南芥花起始的一个关键成分——叶基因启动子中一个假定的ga反应元件将被鉴定和表征；在依赖ga的花诱导途径中发现新的信号转导因子；影响花诱导的新基因将通过功能获得筛选来寻找，在该筛选中确定的基因中至少有两个将被表征。其中一个基因已经被发现，并被定性为一个已知的leaf基因调节因子的同源基因，该基因将被详细分析。花对人类食物的重要性怎么强调都不为过。它们是植物繁殖的器官，它们的直接产物是水果和种子，包括谷物，它们提供了人类消耗的大部分卡路里。因此，了解植物如何调节花的形成可能具有长期的实际应用。

Weigel 9723823 Complementary molecular and genetic approaches will be used to identify and characterize new components in floral induction in Arabidopsis. Floral induction is the transition to flowering which is controlled by a poorly understood process involving at least three major pathways: a long-day dependent pathway, a gibberellin (GA)-dependent pathway and an autonomous pathway. Specifically a putative GA-response element in the prometer of the LEAFY gene, a critical component of flower initiation in Arabidopsis will be identified and characterized; new signal transduction factors in the GA-dependent floral induction pathway will be identified; new genes affecting floral induction will be sought through a gain-of-function screen and at least two of the genes identified in that screen will be characterized. One gene has already been found and characterized as a homolog of a known regulator of the LEAFY gene and that gene will be analyzed in detail. The importance of flowers for human sustenance cannot be overstated. They are organs of plant reproduction and their immediate products are fruits and seeds, including cereal grains, which provide the majority of calories consumed by humans. Thus, an understanding of how plants regulate the formation of flowers is likely to have long-ranging practical applications.