SKIP controls flowering time via the alternative splicing of SEF pre-mRNA in Arabidopsis

BMC Biol. 2017 Sep 11;15(1):80. doi: 10.1186/s12915-017-0422-2.

Abstract

Background: Similar to other eukaryotes, splicing is emerging as an important process affecting development and stress tolerance in plants. Ski-interacting protein (SKIP), a splicing factor, is essential for circadian clock function and abiotic stress tolerance; however, the mechanisms whereby it regulates flowering time are unknown.

Results: In this study, we found that SKIP is required for the splicing of serrated leaves and early flowering (SEF) pre-messenger RNA (mRNA), which encodes a component of the ATP-dependent SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex (SWR1-C). Defects in the splicing of SEF pre-mRNA reduced H2A.Z enrichment at FLC, MAF4, and MAF5, suppressed the expression of these genes, and produced an early flowering phenotype in skip-1 plants.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that SKIP regulates SWR1-C function via alternative splicing to control the floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Keywords: Flowering time; SEF; SKIP; SWR1 complex; Splicing factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Flowers / growth & development
  • RNA Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics*
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Plant
  • SEF protein, Arabidopsis
  • SKIP protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors