A quantitative and dynamic model of the XXXX flowering time gene regulatory network.

@entity958 @entity25530 @entity29398 @entity16471
Various environmental signals integrate into a network of floral regulatory genes leading to the final decision on when to flower. Although a wealth of qualitative knowledge is available on how flowering time genes regulate each other, only a few studies incorporated this knowledge into predictive models. Such models are invaluable as they enable to investigate how various types of inputs are combined to give a quantitative readout. To investigate the effect of gene expression disturbances on flowering time, we developed a dynamic model for the regulation of flowering time in @entity958 . Model parameters were estimated based on expression time-courses for relevant genes, and a consistent set of flowering times for plants of various genetic backgrounds. Validation was performed by predicting changes in expression level in mutant backgrounds and comparing these predictions with independent expression data, and by comparison of predicted and experimental flowering times for several double mutants. Remarkably, the model predicts that a disturbance in a particular gene has not necessarily the largest impact on directly connected genes. For example, the model predicts that SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS ( @entity25530 ) mutation has a larger impact on @entity29398 ( @entity29398 ), which is not directly regulated by @entity25530 , compared to its effect on @entity16471 (LFY) which is under direct control of @entity25530 . This was confirmed by expression data. Another model prediction involves the importance of cooperativity in the regulation of @entity29398 ( @entity29398 ) by LFY, a prediction supported by experimental evidence. Concluding, our model for flowering time gene regulation enables to address how different quantitative inputs are combined into one quantitative output, flowering time.
