High impact information on LEC2

• We found that one of the major roles of LEC2 was to upregulate FUS3 and ABI3 [1].
• Although these LEC2-induced RNAs accumulate primarily during the maturation phase, we show that a subset, including AGL15 and IAA30, accumulate in seeds containing zygotes [2].
• The B3 domain protein LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) is required for several aspects of embryogenesis, including the maturation phase, and is sufficient to induce somatic embryo development in vegetative cells [2].
• Our finding that recombinant LEC2 specifically binds RY motifs from the 5' flanking regions of LEC2-induced genes provides strong evidence that these genes represent transcriptional targets of LEC2 [2].
• LEC2 is required for the maintenance of suspensor morphology, specification of cotyledon identity, progression through the maturation phase, and suppression of premature germination [3].

Associations of LEC2 with chemical compounds

• We showed that LEC2 RNA accumulates primarily during seed development, consistent with our finding that LEC2 shares greatest similarity with the B3 domain transcription factors that act primarily in developing seeds, VIVIPAROUS1/ABA INSENSITIVE3 and FUSCA3 [3].
• This observation suggests that loss of embryogenic potential in the lec2 mutant in vitro is not related to the distribution of exogenously applied auxin and LEC genes likely function downstream in auxin-induced somatic embryogenesis [4].

Other interactions of LEC2

• Embryonic regulators LEC2 (LEAFY COTYLEDON2) and FUS3 (FUSCA3) are involved in multiple aspects of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seed development, including repression of leaf traits and premature germination and activation of seed storage protein genes [5].
• The capacity for somatic embryogenesis was studied in lec1, lec2 and fus3 mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh [4].

References