LEAFY is a pioneer transcription factor and licenses cell reprogramming to floral fate

Run Jin, Samantha Klasfeld, Yang Zhu, Meilin Fernandez Garcia, Jun Xiao, Soon-Ki Han, Adam Konkol and Doris Wagner ()
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Run Jin: University of Pennsylvania
Samantha Klasfeld: University of Pennsylvania
Yang Zhu: University of Pennsylvania
Meilin Fernandez Garcia: School of Medicine
Jun Xiao: University of Pennsylvania
Soon-Ki Han: University of Pennsylvania
Adam Konkol: University of Pennsylvania
Doris Wagner: University of Pennsylvania

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Master transcription factors reprogram cell fate in multicellular eukaryotes. Pioneer transcription factors have prominent roles in this process because of their ability to contact their cognate binding motifs in closed chromatin. Reprogramming is pervasive in plants, whose development is plastic and tuned by the environment, yet little is known about pioneer transcription factors in this kingdom. Here, we show that the master transcription factor LEAFY (LFY), which promotes floral fate through upregulation of the floral commitment factor APETALA1 (AP1), is a pioneer transcription factor. In vitro, LFY binds to the endogenous AP1 target locus DNA assembled into a nucleosome. In vivo, LFY associates with nucleosome occupied binding sites at the majority of its target loci, including AP1. Upon binding, LFY ‘unlocks’ chromatin locally by displacing the H1 linker histone and by recruiting SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers, but broad changes in chromatin accessibility occur later. Our study provides a mechanistic framework for patterning of inflorescence architecture and uncovers striking similarities between LFY and animal pioneer transcription factor.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20883-w

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