Fbxl13 (F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 13) is an orphan F-box protein. Fbox proteins are a family of substrate-targeting specificity factors for the SCF superfamily of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Since their discovery, many F-box proteins have been shown to have oncogenic and tumour suppressive roles. The importance of Fbxl13 itself in tumourigenesis is reflected in several genome-wide shRNA screens. Fbxl13 depletion in human cancer cells correlates with increased ionising radiation sensitivity and increased genomic instability. Furthermore, Fbxl13 depletion reduces proliferation in mouse embryonic epidermis. Conversely, Fbxl13 amplification is frequently observed in several cancer patient cohorts. However, the main function of Fbxl13 is unknown and its biochemical mechanism of action remains uncharacterised. The aim of this study was to identify the interactors, substrates, and functions of Fbxl13, in order to elucidate its role in tumourigenesis. In this study, I identify and validate Fbxl13 interactors Centrin-2, Centrin-3, Cep152, and Cep192. I show that Fbxl13 is enriched at the centrosome, and present evidence that Fbxl13 targets Cep192-3 for ubiquitin mediated proteolysis. In line with this, Fbxl13 overexpression downregulated centrosomal Cep192 and γ-tubulin, and disrupted the microtubule nucleation activity at the centrosome. Finally, Fbxl13 amplification in U2OS cells is associated with increased cell motility. Thus, we propose that Fbxl13 is a novel regulator of centrosome microtubule nucleation activity.

In Arabidopsis, the F-box gene family encodes a large number of proteins postulated to act as substrate selectors for proteasome-mediated protein degradation. Recent reports document the importance of F-box proteins in developmental and metabolic signaling. Our microarray analyses of inflorescences of the brevipedicellus(bp) mutant indicate several F-box proteins are upregulated, suggesting that BP represses these genes in wild type plants to condition normal inflorescence development. We undertook analyses to examine the function of these proteins and their contribution to the pleiotropic phenotypes of bp. Yeast-2-hybrid screens revealed that the F-box protein At1g80440 binds to phenylalanine ammonia lyase-1(PAL1), the gateway enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Transgenic lines driven by the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus were attained but could not be propagated, suggesting a fatal phenotype. BP driven F-box expression results in phyllotaxy defects, manifest as alterations in the emergence of inflorescence and floral meristems in the axils of some cauline leaves.

In Arabidopsis, the F-box gene family encodes a large number of proteins postulated to act as substrate selectors for proteasome-mediated protein degradation. Recent reports document the importance of F-box proteins in developmental and metabolic signaling. Our microarray analyses of inflorescences of the brevipedicellus(bp) mutant indicate several F-box proteins are upregulated, suggesting that BP represses these genes in wild type plants to condition normal inflorescence development. We undertook analyses to examine the function of these proteins and their contribution to the pleiotropic phenotypes of bp. Yeast-2-hybrid screens revealed that the F-box protein At1g80440 binds to phenylalanine ammonia lyase-1(PAL1), the gateway enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolism. Transgenic lines driven by the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus were attained but could not be propagated, suggesting a fatal phenotype. BP driven F-box expression results in phyllotaxy defects, manifest as alterations in the emergence of inflorescence and floral meristems in the axils of some cauline leaves.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

La tomate (Solanum lycopersicum) est l’espèce modèle pour l’étude des fruits charnus. Le développement du fruit de tomate a été décrit comme une succession de phases de développement distinctes, dans lesquelles les régulations hormonales jouent un rôle crucial. Afin de mieux comprendre la régulation du développement du fruit de tomate, des approches ciblées sur des catégories particulières de protéines régulatrices (F-Box) ainsi que des approches non ciblées de génomique fonctionnelle ont été menées dans le laboratoire. L'objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à la validation fonctionnelle de gènes candidats mis en évidence dans ces travaux: trois protéines à F-Box (SlFB2, SlFB11 et SlFB24) et deux facteurs de transcription (SlHAT22 et SlTGA2.1). Au cours de cette thèse, la caractérisation de lignées RNAi précédemment générés pour les protéines SlFB2, SlFB11 et SlFB24 a été poursuivie. Ce travail n’a pas permis pas de conclure sur le rôle de ces protéines à F-Box dans le développement du fruit de tomate. Mais elle a permis d'isoler un mutant d'insertion dans une lignée RNAi SlFB2, spécifiquement affecté au niveau des fruits. Ce mutant est caractérisé par l'absence de développement de tissu loculaire, ce qui entraine une altération de la forme des graines, ainsi qu'une augmentation de la fermeté du fruit. Le site d'insertion de l'ADN-T dans ce mutant n'est pas encore identifié. En outre, la caractérisation des lignées RNAi SlFB11, a permis de proposer l'implication de cette protéine dans la régulation des méristèmes apicaux et floraux. La caractérisation fonctionnelle de SlHAT22 et SlTGA2.1 a été initiée par la génération de lignées transgéniques présentant une altération du niveau d'expression de ces facteurs de transcription (sur-expression et RNAi) ou une altération de la fonction du facteur de transcription par utilisation de la technologie CRES-T. La caractérisation phénotypique des lignées transgéniques, ainsi que des analyses métaboliques préliminaires ont révélé que SlTGA2.1 et SlHAT22 sont impliqués dans des processus de régulation au cours du développement précoce du fruit de tomate. En outre, ils ont également suggéré que SlTGA2.1 est impliqué dans la régulation du murissement du fruit de tomate. / Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a model species for the study of fleshy fruits. Tomato fruit development has been described as a sequence of distinct developmental phases where different hormones play crucial regulatory roles. To further gain insight into the regulation of tomato fruit development, targeted approaches focused on particular classes of regulatory proteins (F-Box) as well as global functional genomics approaches were undertaken in the laboratory. The aim of this thesis was to contribute to the functional validation of candidate genes isolated from such approaches: three F-Box proteins (SlFB2, SlFB11 and SlFB24) and two transcription factors (SlHAT22 and SlTGA2.1).During this PhD thesis, the characterization of SlFB2, SlFB11 and SlFB24 RNAi lines previously generated was pursued. This work does not allow to conclude about the role of these F-Box in tomato fruit development. But it allowed to isolate an insertion mutant in a SlFB2 RNAi line, specifically affected at the fruit level. This mutant is characterized by the absence of locular tissue development and subsequent alteration of seed shape, as well as by an increase in fruit firmness. The insertion site of the T-DNA in this mutant is not yet identified. In addition, characterization of SlFB11 RNAi lines, allowed to propose the implication of this protein in the regulation of the shoot apical and floral meristems.Functional characterization of SlHAT22 and SlTGA2.1 was initiated by the generation of transgenic lines carrying an alteration of the transcription factor (TF) expression level (OE and RNAi lines) or with an alteration of TFs function using the CRES-T technology. Phenotypical characterization of the transgenic lines, together with preliminary metabolic analyses revealed that SlTGA2.1 and SlHAT22 are implicated in regulatory processes during tomato early fruit development. In addition, they also suggested that SlTGA2.1 is involved in the regulation of tomato fruit ripening.

La tomate (Solanum lycopersicum) est l’espèce modèle pour l’étude du développement des fruits charnus. Il a notamment été montré que la signalisation hormonale était un élément central d’un réseau complexe de régulations gouvernant ce processus. Le but de ce travail de thèse était de réaliser la validation fonctionnelle de nouveaux gènes candidats potentiellement impliqués dans la régulation du développement du fruit. Pour cela, le travail s’est découpé autour de trois axes : 1) la validation de l’utilisation de quatre promoteurs de tomate et d’un promoteur d’Arabidopsis thaliana dans des constructions permettant la surexpression ou le silencing de gènes dans le fruit de tomate, à des phases particulières de son développement ou dans des tissus spécifiques du fruit, 2) l’analyse fonctionnelle de gènes codant pour des protéines à F-Box chez la tomate et 3) l’analyse fonctionnelle du gène SlGEM1.Le premier axe de ce travail a porté sur la caractérisation des promoteurs des gènes de tomate IMA (INHIBITOR OF MERISTEM ACTIVITY), TPRP (TOMATO PROLIN-RICH PROTEIN), PPC2 (PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE CARBOXYLASE 2) et PG (POLYGALACTURONASE), ainsi que du promoteur du gène CRC (CRABS-CLAW) d’Arabidopsis thaliana. Des plantes transgéniques ont été générées permettant d’exprimer, sous le contrôle de ces différents promoteurs, le gène rapporteur GUS seul ou fusionné à la GFP (Green fluorescent protein) et à un signal d’adressage au noyau (NLS). L’étude de ces plantes a permis de mettre en évidence la spécificité spatio-temporelle de l’expression de ces différents promoteurs lors du développement du fruit. Dans le cas du promoteur LePPC2, la fusion transcriptionnelle avec la GFP et un signal NLS a permis de montrer une activité spécifique dans les cellules du péricarpe des fruits de tomate en phase d’expansion cellulaire. Cette partie du travail de thèse a validé l’utilisation de ces différents promoteurs pour de futures analyses fonctionnelles de gènes régulateurs du développement du fruit chez la tomate.Le deuxième axe de ce travail a porté sur l’identification de protéines à F-Box impliquées dans la régulation du développement du fruit chez la tomate. En effet, il a été montré que ces protéines à F-Box jouent un rôle particulièrement important dans les processus de régulation chez les plantes grâce à leur fonction de reconnaissance de protéines régulatrices cibles par les complexes SCF (SKP1-Cullin-F-Box), qui sont alors marquées par ubiquitinylation, pour leur dégradation par le protéasome 26S. Parmi les 95 séquences de protéines à F-Box disponibles dans les bases de données d’EST au début de ce travail, quatre gènes candidats ont été retenus pour leur expression tissu-spécifique lors du développement précoce du fruit. Des plantes transgéniques (RNAi et sur-expression) ont été générées pour chacun de ces gènes candidats et leur analyse préliminaire a permis de proposer un rôle dans le développement chez la tomate pour une d’entre elles.Le troisième axe de ce travail a porté sur la caractérisation fonctionnelle du gène SlGEM1, l’orthologue du gène AtGEM (GLABRA2-EXPRESSION MODULATOR), dont le niveau d’expression semblait corrélé à la taille des cellules dans le fruit de tomate. En effet, les données disponibles sur AtGEM montrant son implication dans la coordination de la prolifération et la différenciation des cellules en faisaient un candidat intéressant au contrôle de la taille et du développement du fruit. Des plantes transgéniques (RNAi et sur-expression) SlGEM1 ont été générées, et des mutants de ce gène ont été identifiés par TILLING dans la banque de mutants EMS de la variété Microtom de tomate disponible au laboratoire. Le phénotypage de ces plantes a permis de mettre en évidence une potentielle implication de SlGEM1 dans le développement des fleurs et dans la fertilité des grains de pollen. / Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a model species for studying fleshy fruit development. It has been shown that hormone signaling plays a crucial role in the complex regulatory network governing this developmental process. The aim of this thesis was to perform the functional validation of new candidate genes potentially involved in the regulation of fruit development. For this, the work was divided into three parts: 1) validate the use of four tomato promoters and one promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana in recombinant vectors for the overexpression or silencing of genes in tomato fruit at particular phases of development or in specific fruit tissues, 2) functional analysis of genes encoding F-Box proteins in tomato and 3) functional analysis of SlGEM1 gene.The first part of this work has focused on the characterization of tomato promoters from IMA (INHIBITOR ACTIVITY OF MERISTEM), TPRP (TOMATO Proline-Rich Protein), PPC2 (PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE CARBOXYLASE 2) and PG (polygalacturonase), as well as the promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana CRC gene (CRABS-CLAW). Transgenic plants were generated to express the GUS reporter gene alone or fused to GFP and a NLS signal for nucleus targeting, under the control of the different promoters. The study of these transgenic plants highlighted the specific spatio-temporal expression of these promoters during fruit development. In the case of LePPC2 promoter, the transcriptional fusion with NLS-GFP revealed a specific activity in the large cells of tomato fruit pericarp. This part of the thesis work validated the use of the five different promoters for future functional analysis of genes regulating fruit development in tomato.The second part of this work focused on the identification of F-Box proteins involved in the regulation of tomato fruit development. In plants, it has been shown that F-Box proteins play an important role in regulating processes, due to their specific interaction with regulatory proteins targeted by the SCF complex (SKP1-Cullin-F-Box), leading to their ubiquitination and degradation by the 26S proteasome. Among the 95 sequences of F-Box proteins available in tomato databases at the beginning of this work, four candidate genes were selected for their tissue-specific expression during tomato fruit early development. Transgenic plants (RNAi and over-expression) were generated for each of these candidate genes and their preliminary analysis allowed to propose a role in tomato vegetative development for one of them.The third part of this work focused on the functional characterization of SlGEM1, orthologous to AtGEM (GLABRA2-EXPRESSION MODULATOR). Indeed, a previous work revealed that the expression level of SlGEM1 was correlated with tomato fruit cell size. Available data on AtGEM showing its involvement in the coordination of cell proliferation and differentiation made it an attractive candidate to the control of fruit size and development. Transgenic plants (SlGEM1 RNAi and over-expression) were generated, and mutants of this gene were identified by TILLING in the Microtom mutant collection available in the laboratory. Phenotyping of these plants suggested the involvement of SlGEM1 in flower development and in the fertility of pollen grains.

O desenvolvimento dos órgãos vegetativos e florais das angiospermas depende da ação combinada e finamente regulada de eventos de proliferação e expansão celular. Estudar os genes envolvidos com a regulação destes processos permite ampliar nossa compreensão sobre o desenvolvimento da flor, de seus diferentes órgãos, do processo reprodutivo como um todo, além de permitir produzir modificações de interesse econômico. Um gene codificando uma proteína da família F-box foi identificado na biblioteca TOBEST de cDNAs de estigma/estilete de N. tabacum (Quiapim et al., 2009; Abbad, 2012). A maioria das proteínas F-box pertence ao complexo SCF (formado principalmente pelas proteínas SKP1, CUL1 e F-box), participando da marcação de proteínas alvo para a degradação pela via ubiquitina-proteassomo. O gene identificado no TOBEST demonstrou expressão preferencial nos órgãos florais e foi denominado FEF1 (Flower Expressed F-box 1). Plantas de silenciamento e superexpressão deste gene indicaram alterações no tamanho dos órgãos florais, incluindo o pistilo, foco principal de estudo em nosso laboratório (Abbad, 2012). O screening de duplo-híbrido de uma biblioteca de cDNAs de estigma/estilete de N. tabacum identificou a interação com uma SKP1, indicando que a FEF1 poderia atuar junto ao complexo SCF (Abbad, 2012). No presente trabalho foram realizadas análises macroscópicas e microscópicas em pistilos de plantas transgênicas da geração T1, que permitiram: 1) verificar a estabilidade dos transgenes e das alterações fenotípicas na descendência; 2) quantificar e analisar estatisticamente as alterações de tamanho do pistilo; e 3) verificar as alterações em nível celular, que resultaram nas alterações do tamanho do pistilo, ocorridas nas plantas transgênicas. As plantas de silenciamento apresentaram redução estatisticamente significativa do comprimento de pistilos e da largura dos ovários. As análises histológicas permitiram verificar que ocorreu a redução da proliferação celular na zona secretória do estigma e no parênquima do ovário destas plantas. Por outro lado, as plantas de superexpressão demonstraram aumento estatisticamente significativo do comprimento dos pistilos e da largura de estigmas e ovários. Nestas plantas, foi verificado o aumento do número de células na zona secretória do estigma e parênquima do ovário. A interação entre FEF1 e a SKP1 foi confirmada em experimento de BiFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation), corroborando a participação dessa F-box no complexo SCF. A interação entre estas proteínas ocorre no citoplasma das células vegetais, indicando que este é o local de atuação de FEF1. A participação no complexo SCF confere a essa F-box o papel de seleção dos alvos a serem poliubiquitinados pelo complexo. A análise de candidatos do screening revelou três novos parceiros de interação de FEF1, todos fatores de transcrição da classe I da família TCP, relacionados com a regulação da proliferação celular. Estas proteínas são candidatas à degradação no proteassomo, sinalizada pela marcação promovida pelo complexo SCFFEF1. Deste modo, propomos que a FEF1 desempenhe uma função na regulação do desenvolvimento e do tamanho final dos órgãos florais, mais especificamente do pistilo, através da regulação dos níveis de fatores de transcrição, como as TCPs aqui encontradas, envolvidas com o controle da proliferação celular. / Angiosperms vegetative and flowering organs development depends on a combined influence of finely regulated events of cell proliferation and expansion. The study of genes involved with the regulation of this processes allows the expansion of our knowledge about the flower and its organs development, of the reproductive process and allows the production of modifications of economic interest. One gene coding for an F-box family protein was identified in the TOBEST stigma/style cDNA library of N. tabacum (Quiapim et al., 2009; Abbad, 2012). The majority of F-box proteins belong to the SCF (mainly composed of the SKP1, CUL1 and F-box proteins) complex, participating in the signalization of target proteins for degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The gene identified on TOBEST presented preferential expression on the floral organs and was named FEF1 (Flower Expressed F-box 1). Transgenic plants silencing and overexpressing this gene indicated alteration of the floral organs, including the pistil, the main focus of study in our laboratory (Abbad, 2012). A yeast two-hybrid screening of a N. tabacum stigma/style cDNA library revealed the interaction with a SKP1 protein, indicating that FEF1 possibly functions with the SCF complex (Abbad, 2012). In the present work macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the pistils of T1 generation of transgenic plants were performed, which allowed us to: 1) Confirm the transgene and phenotypic stability through generations; 2) Quantify and statistically analyze the size alterations on the pistils; 3) Analyze the cellular modifications that produced the pistils size alterations observed in the transgenic plants. The plants silencing FEF1 presented a statistically significant reduction of the pistil length and ovary width. Histological analysis allowed the observation that a reduction in cell proliferation occurred in the secretory zone of the stigma and in the ovary parenchyma. On the other hand, overexpression plants presented statistically significant enlargement of pistil length and of stigma and ovary width. In these plants it was observed an increase in cell number in the stigma secretory zone and ovary parenchyma. The interaction between FEF1 and SKP1 was confirmed on a BiFC (Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation), reinforcing the participation of this F-box protein in the SCF complex. The interaction between these proteins was observed to occur in the cytoplasm of plant cells, indicating that this is the cellular compartment of FEF1 action. The participation in the SCF complex confers this F-box the role of selecting targets for polyubiquitination by the complex. The analysis of candidates of the screening revealed three new interaction partners of FEF1, all of them transcription factors of the class I TCP family, related to the regulation of cell proliferation. These proteins are candidates for degradation by the proteasome, signalized by the polyubiquitination promoted by the SCFFEF1 complex. We propose that FEF1 has a role in the regulation of the development and final size of the floral organs, particularly the pistil, by regulation the levels of transcription factors like the TCPs here revealed, involved with the control of cell proliferation.

Les modifications post-traductionnelles des protéines constituent un niveau crucial de régulation de l’expression des gènes. Parmi elles, la conjugaison peptidique impliquant l’ubiquitine intervient entre autre dans la régulation de la stabilité protéique. La fixation de ce peptide de 76 acides aminés, extrêmement conservé, sous forme de chaîne de polyubiquitine, nécessite l’intervention de trois enzymes (E1, E2 et E3) et constitue un signal de dégradation de la protéine ainsi modifiée. Cette voie de régulation intervient dans de très nombreux processus biologiques. Les complexes SCF sont impliqués dans la voie de protéolyse ciblée. Ils représentent l' une des classes les plus fréquentes d'ubiquitine ligase E3 et ils sont composés de quatre sous-unités (Rbx, Cullin, SKP1, et F-box). La structure et la fonction des complexes SCF, ont été étudiées chez la levure, l’Homme et la plante modèle A. thaliana. Cependant, peu de travaux ont été réalisés chez des plantes cultivées, en particulier les céréales, telles que le blé. Cinq gènes codant pour la sous-unité Skp1 (TSK1, TSK3, TSK6, TSK11 et TSK16), cinq gènes codant pour la sous-unité F-box (ZTL, ATFBL5, EBF, TIR1 et ABA-T), un gène codant pour la sous-unité Cullin1 et un gène codant pour la protéine RBX du complexe SCF du blé, ont été isolés et clonés. Les différents tests d’interaction entre les quatre sous-unités du complexe SCF ont été réalisés par la méthode du double-hybride dans la levure en utilisant la technologie Gateway. Ces études ont montré que les deux protéines, TSK1 et TSK3, fixent spécifiquement différentes sous-unités F-box. Parallèlement, nous avons montré que la protéine TSK11 représente une structure particulière. Des études d’insertion/délétion sur la protéine TSK11 ont permis d’identifier un nouveau domaine indispensable à l’interaction. Les analyses par PCR semi-quantitative des différents gènes codant pour la sous-unité Skp1, dans trois tissus différents (feuille tige et racine), ont mis en évidence une expression constitutive des gènes TSK3, TSK6 et TSK11. Tandis que les gènes TSK1 et TSK16 sont exprimés préférentiellement dans les racines. Les analyses par PCR semi-quantitative sur des plantules de blé à différents stades de développement, ont mis en évidence une surexpression du gène TSK11 au moment de la floraison. Ce qui suggère que TSK11 est probablement un équivalent fonctionnel d’ASK1 chez Arabidopsis thaliana. / The selective degradation of proteins is an important means of regulating gene expression and plays crucial roles in the control of various cellular processes. The Ubiquitin (Ub)–Proteasome System (UPS) is the principal non-lysosomal proteolytic pathway in eukaryotic cells and is required for the degradation of key regulatory proteins. Ubiquitin is a 76-residue protein that can be attached covalently to target proteins through an enzymatic conjugation cascade involving three enzymes denoted, E1, E2 and E3.The SCF complex is a type of ubiquitin-protein ligase (E3) that acts as the specific factor responsible for substrate recognition and ubiquitination. Some polyubiquitinated proteins are then targeted to the 26S proteasome for degradation. The SCF complex consists of four components including SKP1, Cullin1, Rbx1 and a large gene family of F-box proteins. Twenty one SKP1-related genes have been described in the Arabidopsis genome and some of these genes have been analyzed genetically. By contrast, little is known about the function and structure of SKP1 homologues in wheat. Some of the Triticum SKP1-related protein (TSKs) have been characterized in this study. Five complete sequences of SKP1 (TSK1, TSK3, TSK6, TSK11 and TSK16), five F-box (ZTL, ATFBL5, EBF, TIR1 and ABA-T), one Cullin1 and one Rbx, were successfully cloned and biochemically characterized. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that TSK1 and TSK3 are capable of interacting with different F-box proteins. Furthermore, TSK11 contains an additional domain that changed its interaction capabilities. In vitro analysis using a chimeric protein showed that this additional domain could modify the interaction between a SKP-like protein and two F-box proteins. Expression analyses revealed that TSK1 and TSK16 were expressed predominantly in roots. While, TSK3, TSK6 and TSK11 were expressed in several wheat organs. In addition, the TSK11 was up-regulated in the leaves at the flowering stage.