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LEAFY COTYLEDONs: old genes with new roles beyond seed development
1National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics & Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai, China.
LEAFY COTYLEDON (LEC) transcription factors orchestrate seed development in Arabidopsis. This review covers their roles in embryogenesis, maturation, resetting cold memory, and developmental silencing.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Seed development involves embryo morphogenesis and maturation.
- LEAFY COTYLEDON (LEC) transcription factors are key regulators of seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- LEC factors were discovered decades ago and are crucial for plant reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize molecular genetic mechanisms of LEC control over embryogenesis and seed maturation.
- To review recent findings on LEC roles in resetting parental cold memory in embryos.
- To discuss chromatin-based silencing of LEC genes post-embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research.
- Analysis of molecular genetic mechanisms.
- Discussion of epigenetic regulation and gene silencing.
Main Results:
- LEC factors are master regulators controlling critical stages of seed development.
- LEC genes are involved in resetting environmental memory in plant embryos.
- Developmental silencing of LEC genes terminates embryonic programs via chromatin mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- LEC transcription factors are essential for Arabidopsis seed development, including embryogenesis, maturation, and epigenetic memory.
- Understanding LEC gene regulation provides insights into developmental transitions and termination of embryonic programs.
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