The LEAFY Floral Regulators in Angiosperms: Conserved Proteins with Diverse Roles

Genetic analyses in model angiosperms have shown that the LEAFY/FLORICAULA transcription factor plays a central role in flower development. In Arabidopsis, LEAFY (LFY) triggers the development of floral meristems and controls their patterning through the activation of floral organ identity genes. Several recent reports enlighten the structure and function of this conserved protein but also illustrate the variety of roles it plays in different angiosperms.