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Training in Systems Biology Applied to Flowering

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From flower to fruit – genes in control

Flowering is not just beautiful, it's an integral part of reproduction and seed production. An integrated research and training initiative has investigated genetic control networks – from initiation of the flower to preparation for fertilisation.

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Formation of a flower is an incredibly complex process involving vegetative and reproductive growth. The 'Training in systems biology applied to flowering' (SYSFLO) project has used a systems approach to the genetic control networks involved. Training nine early stage researchers (ESRs) in the process, SYSFLO used advanced data collection and analysis techniques to generate a flowering model in Arabidopsis thaliana. The researchers' main focus was the master genetic regulators in the flowering control network. Already identified, these control genes have an influence over many biochemical cascades. At the crux of the complexities is the fact that changes in expression of a few key genes affects thousands of genes downstream. Furthermore, key transcription factors can act together. For example, APETALA 1 1 (AP1) and SEPALLATA 3 (SEP3) form a complex that targets genes involved in leaf arrangement and therefore flower position. In another partnership, SEP3 forms a complex with SEEDSTICK (STK) that controls the gene VERDANDI, which has an important and direct role in fertilisation. Again, looking at SEP1-4, AP1 and STK, the genes act in a partly overlapping, yet sometimes targeted fashion, depending on the stage of reproduction and flowering. This level of robustness in the system may make possible the control of development using environmental cues. The team also looked at the role of plant hormones, in particular gibberellin (GA). Experiments revealed that GA action occurs before the floral transition promoter (FT) in leaf tissue. However, GA effect is observable downstream of FT in the apical shoot meristem where the cells are actively dividing. SYSFLO has developed a team of highly qualified young researchers in the collection and analysis of data for modelling complex systems in biology. Deliverables in the flowering and reproduction arena can be applied in the agriculture and horticulture sectors where these processes are key for seed and fruit production. The systems biology approach is potentially transferable to many complex control scenarios in living systems.

Keywords

Flower, training, genetic control networks, systems biology, model, genetic regulator, transcription factor, gibberellin

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