Superman is a plant gene inArabidopsis thaliana, that plays a role in controlling the boundary betweenstamen andcarpel development in a flower.[1] It is named for the comic book characterSuperman, and the related geneskryptonite (gene) andclark kent were named accordingly (although, appropriately, the latter turned out to just be another form ofsuperman).[2] It encodes atranscription factor (specifically a C2H2 typezinc finger protein).[3]Homologous genes are known in thepetunia[4] andsnapdragon,[5] which are also involved in flower development, although in both cases there are important differences from the functioning inArabidopsis.Superman is expressed early on in flower development, in the stamen whorl adjacent to the carpel whorl.[4] It interacts with the other genes ofthe ABC model of flower development in a variety of ways.[4]
Superman encodes atranscription factor.[3] This protein binds to the DNA through azinc finger binding motif[3] acts as a regulator of floralhomeotic genes, controlling the development of the flowers ofArabidopsis thaliana plants.Arabidopsis thaliana flowers develop in four whorls, which are concentric groups of cells branching off of the growingmeristem.[6]Superman has been found to act in the fourth whorl of flowers, which would normally develop intoCarpels. Superman normally restricts the effect of another gene called (APETALA3) in the fourthwhorl, leaving APETALA3 expression only present in the second and third whorls.[6] APETALA3 is a gene normally associated with the development of a stamen in the third whorl,[7] so by its restriction, we allow for the development of other organs in the fourth whorl (such as thePistil).
A mutation which completely removes superman gene function would result in flowers that carry extrastamens, replacing thepistils which would normally be developing in the fourth whorl. This mutation was named thesup-1 mutation. For the sup-1 mutation, More extreme stamen development is seen from ahomozygous mutation than a heterozygous mutation.[8]
The gene which Superman interacts with (APETALA3) is a member of the B-Function group of theABC model of flower development,[7] which is typically responsible for the development ofStamen andPetals. Other important members of the ABC model of flower development include APETALA1, APETALA2, AGAMOUS, and PISTILATA.[9] Superman has not been found to interact with any of these other genes. SUPERMAN (SUP) and SUPERMAN-like genes such as APETALA2 work as a protein complex regulators with other corepressors known as TOPLESS (TPL) and a Histone Deacetylase 19 (HD19) in order to repress transcriptional functions in plants[10]
Superman has been found to undergo toepigenetic modifications. Specifically,cytosine methylation (attachment of methyl radicals to cytosine bases), which represses itstranscriptional activity. This methylation brings about the Clark Kent (clk)epialleles, which are a set of altered versions of the Superman gene lacking function.[11] Whereas most cases of cytosine methylation in plants tend to happen in thePromoter of transcription, the cytosine methylation of Superman happens within the gene, just after the promoter.[6] The exact location of the methylation varies, but defines which clk epiallele we define the plant as having; so far there are 7 identified clk epialleles (numbered clk1-clk7).[11]
These Clark Kent alleles can be inherited, but often, through mutation, will revert to the natural gene at a rate of about 3% per generation.[12]
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