Evolutionarily conserved repressive activity of WOX proteins mediates leaf blade outgrowth and floral organ development in plants.

ABSTRACT: The WUSCHEL related homeobox (WOX) genes play key roles in stem cell maintenance, embryonic patterning, and lateral organ development. WOX genes have been categorized into three clades--ancient, intermediate, and modern/WUS--based on phylogenetic analysis, but a functional basis for this classification has not been established. Using the classical bladeless lam1 mutant of Nicotiana sylvestris as a genetic tool, we examined the function of the Medicago truncatula WOX gene, STENOFOLIA (STF), in controlling leaf blade outgrowth. STF and LAM1 are functional orthologs. We found that the introduction of mutations into the WUS-box of STF (STFm1) reduces its ability to complement the lam1 mutant. Fusion of an exogenous repressor domain to STFm1 restores complementation, whereas fusion of an exogen

SUBMITTER: Lin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3538250 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature