ELF3 recruitment to the PRR9 promoter requires other Evening Complex members in the Arabidopsis circadian clock

Plant Signal Behav. 2012 Feb;7(2):170-3. doi: 10.4161/psb.18766. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

Abstract

Biological timekeeping is essential for proper growth and development. Organisms such as the model plant Arabidopsis use the circadian clock to coordinate biological processes with the environment so that changes in conditions are anticipated and processes favorably phased. Despite the identification of numerous clock genes, knowledge of their molecular connectivity and influence on output programs remains limited. We recently showed LUX encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that directly regulates expression of the morning clock gene PRR9. We also showed that LUX interacts with the evening-phased proteins ELF3 and ELF4 to form a complex called the Evening Complex (EC). The EC binds the PIF4 and PIF5 promoters to control hypocotyl growth as a clock output. Here we provide evidence that LUX also recruits ELF3 to the PRR9 promoter. As with the PIF4 and PIF5 promoters, both LUX and its close homolog NOX are required for recruitment. Hence the entire EC likely functions together as part of the core clock oscillator to optimize plant fitness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Circadian Clocks / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Hypocotyl / growth & development
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ELF3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Lux Arrhythmo protein, Arabidopsis
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • PIF4 protein, Arabidopsis
  • PIF5 protein, Arabidopsis
  • PRR9 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Transcription Factors