Abstract
cryptic precocious-1D (crp-1D) is a dominant mutant, which dramatically enhances the precocious-flowering phenotype of 35S::FT. CRP encodes the Arabidopsis Med12 protein, a subunit of the transcriptional mediator complex. To understand the function of CRP gene, we are analyzing phenotypes of crp-1D mutant and loss-of-function mutants (crp-3, crp-4). crp-1D mutant flowered slightly earlier than wild type in long-day conditions. On the other hand, crp loss-of-function mutants showed late-flowering phenotype. These observations suggests that CRP is a promoter of flowering in Arabidopsis. To investigate its role in flowering, we are analyzing gene expression profiles of some flowering regulators. In crp-3 mutant, FLC, flowering repressor, was expressed at higher levels than wild type. crp mutants also showed pleiotropic morphological phenotype. This is consistent with recent reports of loss-of-function mutants of MED12 in other eukaryotes, which shows pleiotropic morphological phenotype.
