Functional analysis of alternative splicing in plants

Recent genomic studies reveal that a substantial portion of transcripts in eukaryotes undergo alternative plicing. The role of alternative splicing in plant growth and development is poorly understood. We have previously shown that temperature changes are associated with changes alternative splicing of several genes including flowering time genes. Here we investigate the functional significance of alternative splicing in plants using a photoreceptor gene (PHYTOCHROME C) and a transcription factor (FLOWERING LOCUS M) as case studies. This proposal will reveal the functional significance of alternative splicing and provide an understanding of how plants integrate light and teperature cues during growth and development.