Abstract
Arabidopsis TFL1 plays an important role in the regulation of flowering time and the determination of meristem identity. Although a possible involvement in signal transduction pathways is suggested, the function of TFL1 remains to be clear. To further understand it, we developed a new method to identify interacting proteins.
Because TFL1 mRNA is expressed in the inflorescence meristems, proteins were extracted from apical tissue of cauliflower, which is comprised primarily of the inflorescence meristems. The proteins were applied to a column bound with recombinant GST fused with TFL1. Proteins which bound with TFL-GST fusion protein were eluted by increasing ionic strength in buffer, and identified by LC-MS/MS. One of the identified proteins was also determined by yeast two-hybrid assay using TFL1, indicating this method is an effective tool to search for protein complexes in the inflorescence and floral meristems in Arabidopsis. Now we are currently clarifying their function.
