ZFTF Gene Family Functional Characterization Using miRNA Gene Regulatory Network in Arabidopsis thaliana

In plants, tillers and seed number are associated with agronomically important yield traits contributing to increased grain yield production and biomass. The shoot branching developmental trait is initiated by the formation of axillary meristems and determined by developmental and environmental signals. Shoot branching architecture (SBA) plays a major role in determining tillers and seed number, which directly impact yield production associated with grain yield and biomass traits. To characterize candidate genes associated with developmental traits, we generated a gene regulatory network enriched in miRNAs network. Zinc Finger Homeobox TFs were highly connected within the network. We uncovered a developmental regulator and characterized a relatively small TF family named Zinc Finger Homeobox (ZF-HD) transcription factor family that controls branching and flower architecture in the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We have recently performed smRNA expression profiling and transcriptome expression profiling between wild type and ZF-HD TF mutants with morphological differences is caused by molecular perturbation of the miRNA gene regulatory sub-network.  Phylogenetic analysis suggests the ZF-HD TF family has evolved from water to land plants and has been conserved throughout land plants. In addition to the evolutionary aspect, genetic analysis, transcriptional profiling in the loss of function mutants and in vivo binding analysis suggests that genetic factors are tightly linked and become more systematically modulated in branching changes.