Arabidopsis Transcription Factors and the Regulation of Flowering Time: A Genomic Perspective

The availability of the Arabidopsis genome sequence allows for novel approaches in the analysis of many aspects of plant biology. Approximately 6% of Arabidopsis genes code for transcription factors, which can be grouped into different families according to similarities within the DNA binding domains. Transcription factors are critical regulatory components of the pathways that underpin many aspects of plant growth, development, and physiology. In particular, a substantial number of them are emerging as having crucial roles in controlling one of the most important, but complex, steps in the plant life cycle: the transition to flowering. Genome-wide studies offer the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of this polygenic process, making it possible to appreciate both the large number of genes involved, as well as the complex regulatory networks into which those genes are integrated.