TFL1 Background Information
Shoot apical meristems develop into floral meristems, which initiate flowering in response to internal or external signals (1,2). In a floral meristem, a cell’s fate is determined by its relative position within the meristem and by the expression of specific regulatory proteins (1,2). The pattern that develops is a determinate series of four floral whorls, which consists of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Several MADS-box regulatory proteins, including Apetala (AP) 1,2 and 3, Cauliflower (CAL), Terminal Flower 1 (TFL1), Leafy (LFY), Superman (SUP), and Agamous (AG) overlap in expression and function to specify each floral whorl (1-7). For instance, Agamous expression promotes the development of stamens and carpels (4,5). Additionally, Superman is required for the proper spatial development of reproductive tissue, illustrated by the development of an additional whorl of stamens at the expense of carpels in SUP mutants (7).
