SPY — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT3G11540, known as SPINDLY (SPY) in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a protein with O-GlcNAc transferase (OGTase) activity, specifically peptide-O-fucosyltransferase and protein N-GlcNAc transferase functions, and belongs to the glycosyltransferase 41 family. It also exhibits DNA-binding and transcription factor activity. SPY is associated with diverse biological processes including protein O-linked glycosylation, circadian rhythm temperature compensation, far-red light signaling, meristem determinacy, and regulation of dephosphorylation. The gene is linked to numerous agronomically relevant traits such as photoperiod sensitivity, drought sensitivity, harvest index, leaf area index, fruit number, inflorescence architecture, and gibberellin biosynthesis and signaling. SPY localizes to both the cytoplasm and nucleus and is connected to pathways regulating flowering under drought stress and photoperiod-dependent florigen expression. Studies of related genes in other species link the SPY family to seed development, meristematic activity, and virus infection responses.