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SUMMARY:Chromatin and antisense transcript dynamics in seasonal timing - C
 aroline Dean\, John Innes Centre
DTSTART:20141030T130000Z
DTEND:20141030T140000Z
UID:TALK54567@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:38889
DESCRIPTION:The correct timing of flowering is crucial for reproductive su
 ccess. Genetic analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana has identified an integrat
 ed regulatory network that controls the timing of this developmental switc
 h in response to seasonal cues. The Dean lab has focused on how prolonged 
 cold promotes flowering. This process is known as vernalization and it ali
 gns flowering with spring. We have dissected the mechanistic basis of vern
 alization in Arabidopsis through identification of mutants\, analysis of t
 he corresponding genes\, chromatin biochemistry and more recently\, comput
 ational modelling.\n \nCentral to vernalization in Arabidopsis is the quan
 titative regulation of a floral repressor gene\, FLC. Quantitative variati
 on in FLC determines whether plants require vernalization. Quantitative ep
 igenetic silencing of FLC determines how long a winter is required. Dissec
 tion of both processes has led into the study of a set of antisense transc
 ripts at the FLC locus\, collectively called COOLAIR. Differentially proce
 ssed forms of COOLAIR are associated with different FLC chromatin states. 
 The chromatin modification\, transcription and antisense transcript proces
 sing are co-transcriptionally coupled resulting in feedback loops that rei
 nforce high or low expression states at FLC. The talk will describe our cu
 rrent understanding of these mechanisms.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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