CHIP-seq reveals a role of StBBX20 transcription regulator in potato reproduction

The appropriate setting of the transition time from vegetative growth to reproductive development is essential for successfully achieving the plant life cycle and has commercial significance for crop plants. The transition from vegetative to floral development in higher plants is programmed by the simultaneous occurrence of several environmental stimuli.B-box proteins (BBX) are zinc finger transcription regulators forming complex families in plants with 32 members in Arabidopsis and 30 in cultivated potato. Plant BBX proteins are characterized by the presence in the N-terminus of one single B-box domain or two arranged in tandem. In cultivated potato, BBX proteins are classified into five groups based on the presence and number of B-box and CCT domains. Plant BBX proteins widely differ in structure and fulfil distinct functions in the regulation of plant growth and development including seedling photomorphogenesis, photoperiodic regulation of flowering, and shade avoidance. While in Arabidopsis the mechanisms controlling flowering have been well-known and the proteins belonging to the BBX family involved in the regulation of flowering have been well characterized in terms of their function, in crops the function of BBX proteins in vegetative and generative development is still poorly understood and only for a few BBX proteins was determined.In this project, we want to explain the role of the StBBX20 protein in the regulation of flowering time and tuber characteristics in cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Desiree. Based on our earlier results showing that StBBX20 expression is subject to diurnal regulation and StBBX20 protein acts as a transcriptional regulator of critical genes associated with the floral transition process, we intend to identify StBBX20-targeted genes specific to the light-dark cycle and potentially involved in potato reproduction by performing chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (CHIP-seq).