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WUSCHEL: a master regulator in plant growth signaling

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Abstract

Key message

This review summarizes recent knowledge on functions of WUS and WUS-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors in diverse signaling pathways governing shoot meristem biology and several other aspects of plant dynamics.

Abstract

Transcription factors (TFs) are master regulators involved in controlling different cellular and biological functions as well as diverse signaling pathways in plant growth and development. WUSCHEL (WUS) is a homeodomain transcription factor necessary for the maintenance of the stem cell niche in the shoot apical meristem, the differentiation of lateral primordia, plant cell totipotency and other diverse cellular processes. Recent research about WUS has uncovered several unique features including the complex signaling pathways that further improve the understanding of vital network for meristem biology and crop productivity. In addition, several reports bridge the gap between WUS expression and plant signaling pathway by identifying different WUS and WUS-related homeobox (WOX) genes during the formation of shoot (apical and axillary) meristems, vegetative-to-embryo transition, genetic transformation, and other aspects of plant growth and development. In this respect, the WOX family of TFs comprises multiple members involved in diverse signaling pathways, but how these pathways are regulated remains to be elucidated. Here, we review the current status and recent discoveries on the functions of WUS and newly identified WOX family members in the regulatory network of various aspects of plant dynamics.

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Abbreviations

AM:

Axillary meristem

AGL15 :

AGAMOUS-LIKE15

ARR:

ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR

BBM :

BABY BOOM

FM:

Floral meristem

FUS3 :

FUSCA3

GFP:

Green fluorescence protein

HDL :

HEADLESS

IAA30:

Indole acetic acid inducible 30

LEC :

LEAFY COTYLEDON

LSY1 :

LEAF LATERAL SYMMETRY1

RAM:

Root apical meristem

SE:

Somatic embryogenesis

SAM:

Shoot apical meristem

SERK :

SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE

TAA :

TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE ARABIDOPSIS

TFs:

Transcription factors

WUS :

WUSCHEL

WOX :

WUSCHEL-related homeobox

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India for providing the infrastructure facilities. This work was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), SERB, Govt. of India, under Startup Research Scheme (File No. SRG/2019/001279).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Priyanka Jha

  2. Plant Biotechnology Lab, Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India

    Vijay Kumar

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Lovely Faculty of Technology and Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India

    Vijay Kumar

  4. Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000, Dijon, France

    Sergio J. Ochatt

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  1. Priyanka Jha
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VK conceived the idea, all authors collected the data, wrote the manuscript and approved its final version. We apologize to all colleagues whose works could not be cited in this manuscript due to space constraints.

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Correspondence to Vijay Kumar.

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Communicated by Neal Stewart.

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Jha, P., Ochatt, S.J. & Kumar, V. WUSCHEL: a master regulator in plant growth signaling. Plant Cell Rep 39, 431–444 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-020-02511-5

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