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Modulation of intracellular proline levels affects flowering time and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis

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Abstract

We reported previously that the plant oncogene rolD anticipates and stimulates flowering in Nicotiana tabacum, and encodes ornithine cyclodeaminase, an enzyme catalysing the conversion of ornithine to proline. To investigate on the possible role of proline in flowering, we altered the expression of AtP5CS1, encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of proline biosynthesis in plants. Accordingly we characterized a mutant line containing a T-DNA insertion into AtP5CS1 and introduced in Arabidopsis thaliana AtP5CS1 under the control of the CaMV35S promoter. As expected homozygous p5cs1 mutants behaved as late flowering. In addition p5cs1 mutants exhibited a shorter size and contained lower levels of proline, compared to wild type. 35S-P5CS1 plants, manifested, early in development, overexpression of P5CS1 and accumulation of proline, leading to early flowering, both under long- and short-day conditions. Later in development, down-regulation of P5CS1 occurred in 35S-P5CS1 leaves, leading to proline reduction, and, in turn, impaired bolting and stunted growth. Salt-stress restored expression of P5CS1 and proline accumulation in P5CS1-transformed plants, as well as rescuing growth. Our data suggest that proline plays a key role in flower transition, bolting and coflorescence formation.

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Abbreviations

SAM:

Shoot apical meristem

DAG:

Days after germination

ABA:

Abscisic acid

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nathalie Verbruggen of the University of Bruxelles, and Dr Chris Genetello of the University of Ghent, for kindly providing the cDNA of AtP5CS1. This work was partially supported by grants from MIUR (FIRB, PRIN, Centro di Eccellenza in Biologia e Medicina Molecolare) and a grant from Università La Sapienza (Progetto di Ateneo to MMA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome, 00185, Italy

    Roberto Mattioli, Paolo Costantino & Maurizio Trovato

  2. Interfakultäres Institut für Zellbiologie, Abteilung Genetik der Tiere, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076, Tubingen, Germany

    Daniele Marchese

  3. Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Università di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome, 00185, Italy

    Simone D’Angeli & Maria Maddalena Altamura

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  1. Roberto Mattioli
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  2. Daniele Marchese
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  3. Simone D’Angeli
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  4. Maria Maddalena Altamura
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  6. Maurizio Trovato
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Correspondence to Maurizio Trovato.

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Mattioli, R., Marchese, D., D’Angeli, S. et al. Modulation of intracellular proline levels affects flowering time and inflorescence architecture in Arabidopsis. Plant Mol Biol 66, 277–288 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-007-9269-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-007-9269-1

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