SEP1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT4G34190, designated SEP1 (stress enhanced protein 1) in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a protein with chlorophyll-binding and DNA-binding transcription factor activity, localising to the nucleus, photosystem II, and chloroplast thylakoid membrane. SEP1 is associated with responses to UV-A and high light intensity, regulation of double fertilization, maintenance of floral organ identity, integument and seed coat development, abscission, cell division, and chromatin modelling. The gene is linked to numerous reproductive and floral traits including pistil size, carpel shape, stamen number, floral organ size and number, petal size, seed weight, seed coat hardness, silique morphology, leaf shattering, and heterosis. It is also connected to phenotypes such as light stress response, ovule initiation, carpel development, seed size, seed abscission, fruit dehiscence, and seed oil accumulation. Studies of related genes in other species link the SEP1 family to petal number, chlorophyll content, and plant height.