Overexpression of SLIM1 transcription factor accelerates vegetative development in Arabidopsis thaliana

SLIM1 has a well established role in regulating transcriptional responses to sulfur deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana. In order to investigate the impact of SLIM1 expression under sufficient nutrient conditions, we generated 35S::SLIM1 over-expression lines. SLIM1OX plants were found to have larger rosette area, bolt earlier, and enter developmental senescence earlier than Col-0 and slim1KO (slim1-cr) plants. RNA-seq followed by differential expression analysis was performed on rosette tissue at three timepoints. Gene expression profiling analysis was performed with RNA-seq data from Arabidopsis thaliana rosettes to investigate the function of SLIM1/EIL3 (AT1G73730) in sufficient nutrient conditions. 5 geneotypes were included in the study: Col-0, slim1KO (slim1-cr), pH7WG (EV), and two independent 35S::SLIM1 OX lines. Individual rosettes of each genotype were harvested at three timepoints: 30 days after sowing, 37 days after sowing, and 44 days after sowing.