高等植物FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1基因家族研究进展

he FT/TFL1 gene family members play an important role in controlling the transition of flower in photoperiod pathway. The main gene family members FT and TFL1 function as activator and repressors of flower respectively. All the research demonstrated that FT protein functions as 'Florigen'. The researchers isolated FT/TFL1 gene family members from forty species and there are different copy numbers in different species. This gene family divided into three subfamily which includes FT subfamily, MFT subfamily and TFL1 subfamily. Most gene family members contain four exons and three introns and encode about 175 amino acid small protein. The FT/TFL1 gene family members not only control the development of flower but also control the development of formation of seed, root and bud dormancy and so on. This paper reviewed the progress of the FT/TFL1 gene family in recent years in order to provide theoretical foundation in understanding and researching it deeply.