TCP transcription factors: architectures of plant form

Abstract

After its initial definition in 1999, the TCP family of transcription factors has become the focus of a multiplicity of studies related with plant development at the cellular, organ, and tissue levels. Evidence has accumulated indicating that TCP transcription factors are the main regulators of plant form and architecture and constitute a tool through which evolution shapes plant diversity. The TCP transcription factors act in a multiplicity of pathways related with cell proliferation and hormone responses. In recent years, the molecular pathways of TCP protein action and biochemical studies on their mode of interaction with DNA have begun to shed light on their mechanism of action. However, the available information is fragmented and a unifying view of TCP protein action is lacking, as well as detailed structural studies of the TCP-DNA complex. Also important, the possible role of TCP proteins as integrators of plant developmental responses to the environment has deserved little attention. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the structure and functions of TCP transcription factors and analyze future perspectives for the study of the role of these proteins and their use to modify plant development.

TheArabidopsis thalianaTCP transcription factors: A broadening horizon beyond development

“…[1][2][3] This protein family is represented by 4 founding members, including TEOSINTE BRANCHED1 (TB1), CYCLOIDEA (CYC), PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN FACTOR1 (PCF1) and PCF2, which are identified on the basis of either their functions in plant development or their DNA binding capacities. [4][5][6][7][8] Whereas TB1 suppresses lateral branching in maize (Zea mays) and CYC controls floral dorsoventral asymmetry in snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), PCF1 and PCF2 promote cell proliferation and organ growth in rice (Oryza sativa).…”

Genome-wide analysis of TCP family in tobacco

“…Among other things, the TCP transcription factors regulate embryonic growth, floral organ morphogenesis, pollen development, leaf development, seed germination, senescence, cell cycle regulation, circadian rhythm, and hormone signaling (Martín-Trillo and Cubas, 2010;Danismanet al, 2012;Uberti-Manassero et al, 2013). The TCP family proteins are studied in some dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants and all class I and class II proteins are reported to function as transcriptional activators and repressors in the control of plant growth and development (Uberti-Manassero et al, 2013;De Paolo et al, 2015). Although, the function of class II TCP proteins is well known, the data on the class I have been lacking.…”

Redox-Dependent Modulation of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis by the TCP Transcription Factor TCP15 during Exposure to High Light Intensity Conditions in Arabidopsis

“…Class-I proteins participate in the regulation of cell proliferation, leaf and flower development, stem elongation, and responses to hormones. They modulate jasmonic acid biosynthesis and cytokinin, auxin, and gibberellin responses (Martín-Trillo and Cubas, 2010;Manassero et al, 2013). Mutations in genes encoding two closely related class-I proteins from Arabidopsis, TCP14 (At3g47620) and TCP15 (At1g69690), affect several aspects of plant development, among them seed germination (Resentini et al, 2015), leaf shape (Kieffer et al, 2011), inflorescence stem growth (Davière et al, 2014), and gynoecium development (Lucero et al, 2015).…”