Upstream Regions Required for Expression Control of the Arabidopsis Floral Homeotic Gene PISTILLATA (MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND INFORMATION-Molecular Biology)

Abstract

PISTILLATA is a B-class floral organ identity gene required for the normal development of petals and stamens in Arabidopsis thaliana. Its expression is induced in the stage 3 flowers (early expression) and is maintained until anthesis (late expression). To explore in more detail the developmentally regulated gene expression of PISTILLATA, the author dissected its upstream DNA region followed by analyzing the promoter activity with transgenic plants carrying various mutations in meristem and organ identity genes. The results indicate that LEAFY and UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS induce PISTILLATA expression in a flower-independent manner through a distal promoter, and that PISTILLATA together with APETALA3 maintain PISTILLATA expression in the later stages of flower development through a proximal promoter.