High impact information on ELF4

• The ELF4 gene controls circadian rhythms and flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana [1].
• Mutations in elf4 result in early flowering in non-inductive photoperiods, which is probably caused by elevated amounts of CONSTANS (CO), a gene that promotes floral induction [1].
• We have used this assay with wild-type and mutant seedlings to examine the role of these oscillator components, and to determine the function of ELF3 and ELF4 in their light-regulated expression [2].
• Recently, this locus was identified as EARLY FLOWERING 4, a gene implicated in floral induction and regulating the expression of the gene CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 [3].
• EARLY FLOWERING 4 functions in phytochrome B-regulated seedling de-etiolation [3].

Biological context of ELF4

• Together with these previous data, our findings suggest that EARLY FLOWERING 4 functions as a signaling intermediate in phy-regulated gene expression involved in promotion of seedling de-etiolation, circadian clock function, and photoperiod perception [3].

Other interactions of ELF4

• The mapping accuracy using bulk pools of 26 to 100 F(2) individuals ranged from 0.22 to 1.96 Mb of the mutations revealing mutant alleles of EARLY FLOWERING 3, EARLY FLOWERING 4, TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1, and ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 1 [4].

References