Function analysis of VOZ genes related to flowering control in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Phytochrome is a family of major photoreceptor that regulates photomorphogenesis in plants. VOZ (Vascular plant One-Zinc finger) protein was identified as interacting factor of phytochrome by yeast-two hybrid screening. VOZ was also known as a transcription factor with novel zinc coordinating motif that binds to the cis-acting region of Arabidopsis V-PPase gene, AVP1. Arabidopsis possess two genes of VOZ, AtVOZ1 and AtVOZ2. Homologus genes were found in various land plants. The voz1/voz2 double mutant showed late flowering phenotype in long day condition. FT and CO genes have central roles in flowering regulation in photoperiodic pathway. We compared the expression of FT gene between WT and voz1/voz2 double mutant by Real time PCR. We will discuss the signal transduction of flowering pathway which is mediated by VOZ.