An ALOG transcription factor targets a TALE homeobox gene during corolla abscission in Torenia fournieri

Abstract

The ALOG genes encode plant-specific transcription factors with conserved yet partially divergent functions across the plant kingdom. However, few direct downstream targets of ALOG transcription factors have been characterized to date. Here, we investigated the ALOG protein TfALOG3 in Torenia fournieri and identified its novel role through DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq), transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), and biochemical assays. We further validated a direct downstream target of TfALOG3 using RNA in situ hybridization and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. TfALOG3 was initially described as a key regulator of corolla development via its interaction with a BLADE-ON-PETIOLE orthologue, TfBOP2. Here, we demonstrate that the BOP-ALOG complex also promotes corolla abscission. Furthermore, we identified a TALE homeobox gene, TfATH1, as a downstream target of TfALOG3. TfATH1 exhibits high expression in the proximal corolla region, and we show that TfALOG3 directly binds to the TfATH1 promoter to activate its transcription. Loss-of-function mutants of TfATH1 suggest that TfALOG3 acts upstream of TfATH1 and downregulation of TfATH1 expression leads to abnormal corolla abscission. Collectively, our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized role for an ALOG transcription factor and elucidate its mechanistic contribution to corolla abscission.

Keywords: ALOG transcription factor; Flower development; TALE homeobox gene; Torenia fournieri; abscission.