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Abstract

The seed is a vital component of the plant life cycle and an innovative strategy that plants use to reproduce and survive through extended periods of adverse environmental conditions. The processes involved in the development of the seed are highly complex, and one novel clade of genes that was identified to play a role in controlling the genetic network of seed development is the DYNAMIC INFLUENCER OF GENE EXPRESSION (DIG) clade. Using genetic strategies including Yeast 2 Hybrid and a mutagenesis screen, I worked to elucidate the mechanisms behind the DIG clade’s regulation of this genetic network. My proposed model shows that through protein-protein interactions, transcription factors can recruit DIG proteins to target genes, and in turn DIGs interact with VP1/ABI3-LIKE 2 (VAL2) which recruits the Polycomb Repressive Complexes 1 and 2 to regulate the target genes expression through chromatin modifications.