# Glyma11g13220, a homolog of the vernalization pathway gene VERNALIZATION 1 from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], promotes flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana **Authors:** Jing Lü, Haicui Suo, Rong Yi, Qibin Ma, Hai Nian PMC · DOI: 10.1186/s12870-015-0602-6 · BMC Plant Biology · 2015-09-29 ## TL;DR This study shows that a soybean gene similar to a known flowering gene in Arabidopsis can promote early flowering when overexpressed. ## Contribution The study identifies and characterizes a soybean gene homologous to Arabidopsis VRN1 and shows its role in flowering regulation. ## Key findings - Glyma11g13220 is expressed in soybean and is responsive to photoperiod and low temperature. - Overexpression of Glyma11g13220 in Arabidopsis leads to early flowering and altered expression of flowering-related genes. - The gene is nuclear-localized and shares conserved and diverged functions with Arabidopsis VRN1. ## Abstract The precise timing of flowering is fundamental to successful reproduction, and has dramatic significance for crop yields. Although prolonged low temperatures are not required for flowering induction in soybean, vernalization pathway genes have been retained during the evolution of this species. Little information is currently available in regarding these genes in soybean. We were able to detect the expression of Glyma11g13220 in different organs at all monitored developmental stages in soybean. Glyma11g13220 expression was higher in leaves and pods than in shoot apexes and stems. In addition, Glyma11g13220 was responsive to photoperiod and low temperature in soybean. Furthermore, Glyma11g13220 was found to be a nuclear-localized protein. Over-expression of Glyma11g13220 in an Arabidopsis Columbia-0 (Col-0) background resulted in early flowering. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that transcript levels of flower repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), and FD decreased significantly in transgenic Arabidopsis compared with wild-type Col-0, while the expression of VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3 (VIN3) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) noticeably increased. Our results suggest that Glyma11g13220, a homolog of Arabidopsis VRN1, is a functional protein. Glyma11g13220, which is responsive to photoperiod and low temperature in soybean, may participate in the vernalization pathway in Arabidopsis and help regulate flowering time. Arabidopsis VRN1 and Glyma11g13220 exhibit conserved as well as diverged functions. The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0602-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users ## Linked entities - **Genes:** FLC (K-box region and MADS-box transcription factor family protein) [NCBI Gene 830878], ELP1 (elongator acetyltransferase complex subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 8518], VIN3 (Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein) [NCBI Gene 835844], FT (PEBP (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) family protein) [NCBI Gene 842859], VRN1 (AP2/B3-like transcriptional factor family protein) [NCBI Gene 821432] - **Species:** Arabidopsis thaliana (taxon 3702), Arabidopsis (taxon 3701) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** AGL20 (AGAMOUS-like 20) [NCBI Gene 819174] {aka AGAMOUS-like 20, ATSOC1, F17K2.19, MADS-BOX PROTEIN AGL20, SOC1, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1}, LFY (floral meristem identity control protein LEAFY (LFY)) [NCBI Gene 836307] {aka LEAFY, LEAFY 3, LFY3, MAC9.13, MAC9_13}, bZIP (basic leucine-zipper 8) [NCBI Gene 843221] {aka AtbZIP, T6L1.5, basic leucine-zipper 8}, AP1 (K-box region and MADS-box transcription factor family protein) [NCBI Gene 843244] {aka AGAMOUS-like 7, AGL7, APETALA1, AtAP1, F4N2.9, F4N2_9}, CO (B-box type zinc finger protein with CCT domain-containing protein) [NCBI Gene 831441] {aka B-box domain protein 1, BBX1, CONSTANS, F14F8.220, F14F8_220, FG}, beta-tubulin [NCBI Gene 547844], DREB1A (dehydration response element B1A) [NCBI Gene 828652] {aka ATCBF3, C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR 3, C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR 3, CBF3, T30C3.3, TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATOR CBF3}, VRN2 (VEFS-Box of polycomb protein) [NCBI Gene 827392] {aka REDUCED VERNALIZATION RESPONSE 2}, VRN5 (Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein) [NCBI Gene 822034] {aka VERNALIZATION 5, VIL1, VIN3-LIKE 1}, FT (PEBP (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) family protein) [NCBI Gene 842859] {aka F5I14.3, F5I14_3, FLOWERING LOCUS T, REDUCED STEM BRANCHING 8, RSB8}, GT-1 (Homeodomain-like superfamily protein) [NCBI Gene 837905] {aka T6J4.18, T6J4_18}, VIN3 (Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein) [NCBI Gene 835844] {aka MSF19.4, MSF19_4, VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3}, Glyma11g13220 [NCBI Gene 100815555], FLC (K-box region and MADS-box transcription factor family protein) [NCBI Gene 830878] {aka AGAMOUS-like 25, AGL25, FLF, FLOWERING LOCUS C, FLOWERING LOCUS F, MADS BOX PROTEIN FLOWERING LOCUS F}, VRN1 (AP2/B3-like transcriptional factor family protein) [NCBI Gene 821432] {aka REDUCED VERNALIZATION RESPONSE 1, REM39, REPRODUCTIVE MERISTEM 39} - **Diseases:** ND (MESH:C537849), FT (MESH:C000719190), delay of (MESH:D006968), Columbia-0 (MESH:C566917) - **Chemicals:** nitrogen (MESH:D009584), gibberellic acid (MESH:C007842), Trizol (MESH:C411644), 35S::eGFP (-), hygromycin (MESH:C026273), agarose (MESH:D012685) - **Species:** Cauliflower mosaic virus (no rank) [taxon 10641], Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly, species) [taxon 7227], Oryza sativa (Asian cultivated rice, species) [taxon 4530], Glycine max (soybean, species) [taxon 3847], Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress, species) [taxon 3702] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC4588262/full.md ## Figures 8 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC4588262/full.md ## References 50 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC4588262/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC4588262