Dataset Information

The WUS homeobox-containing (WOX) protein family.

ABSTRACT: The WOX genes form a plant-specific subclade of the eukaryotic homeobox transcription factor superfamily, which is characterized by the presence of a conserved DNA-binding homeodomain. The analysis of WOX gene expression and function shows that WOX family members fulfill specialized functions in key developmental processes in plants, such as embryonic patterning, stem-cell maintenance and organ formation. These functions can be related to either promotion of cell division activity and/or prevention of premature cell differentiation. The phylogenetic tree of the plant WOX proteins can be divided into three clades, termed the WUS, intermediate and ancient clade. WOX proteins of the WUS clade appear to some extent able to functionally complement other members. The specific function of individual WOX-family proteins is most probably determined by their spatiotemporal expression pattern and probably also by their interaction with other proteins, which may repress their transcriptional activity. The prototypic WOX-family member WUS has recently been shown to act as a bifunctional transcription factor, functioning as repressor in stem-cell regulation and as activator in floral patterning. Past research has mainly focused on part of the WOX protein family in some model flowering plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) or Oryza sativa (rice). Future research, including so-far neglected clades and non-flowering plants, is expected to reveal how these master switches of plant differentiation and embryonic patterning evolved and how they fulfill their function.

SUBMITTER: van der Graaff E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812940 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The WUS homeobox-containing (WOX) protein family.

van der Graaff Eric E Laux Thomas T Rensing Stefan A SA

Genome biology 20091229 12

The WOX genes form a plant-specific subclade of the eukaryotic homeobox transcription factor superfamily, which is characterized by the presence of a conserved DNA-binding homeodomain. The analysis of WOX gene expression and function shows that WOX family members fulfill specialized functions in key developmental processes in plants, such as embryonic patterning, stem-cell maintenance and organ formation. These functions can be related to either promotion of cell division activity and/or prevent ...[more]

PMID: 20067590

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Project description:BackgroundWUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes encoding plant-specific homeobox (HB) transcription factors play important roles in the growth and development of plants. To date, WOX genes has been identified and analyzed in many polyploids (such as cotton and tobacco), but the evolutionary analysis of them during polyploidization is rare. With the completion of genome sequencing, allotetraploid Brassica napus and its diploid progenitors (B. rapa and B. oleracea) are a good system for studying this question.ResultsIn this study, 52, 25 and 29 WOX genes were identified in allotetraploid B. napus (2n = 4x = 38, AnCn), the An genome donor B. rapa (2n = 2x = 20, Ar) and the Cn genome donor B. oleracea (2n = 2x = 18, Co), respectively. All identified WOX genes in B. napus and its diploid progenitors were divided into three clades, and these genes were selected to perform gene structure and chromosome location analysis. The results showed that at least 70 and 67% of WOX genes maintained the same gene structure and relative position on chromosomes, respectively, indicating that WOX genes in B. napus were highly conserved at the DNA level during polyploidization. In addition, the analysis of duplicated genes and transposable elements (TEs) near WOX genes showed that whole-genome triplication (WGT) events, segmental duplication and abundant TEs played important roles in the expansion of the WOX gene family in B. napus. Moreover, the analysis of the expression profiles of WOX gene pairs with evolutionary relationships suggested that the WOX gene family may have changed at the transcriptional regulation level during polyploidization.ConclusionsThe results of this study increased our understanding of the WOX genes in B. napus and its diploid progenitors, providing a rich resource for further study of WOX genes in these species. In addition, the changes in WOX genes during the process of polyploidization were discussed from the aspects of gene number, gene structure, gene relative location and gene expression, which provides a reference for future polyploidization analysis.

Project description:Bamboos (Bambusoideae) are fast-growing species due to their rapid growth rate and ability to reproduce annually via cloned buds produced on the rhizome. WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes have been reported to regulate shoot apical meristem organization, lateral organ formation, cambium and vascular proliferation, and so on, but have rarely been studied in bamboos. In this study, the WOXs of both herbaceous bamboo species (12 OlaWOXs and nine RguWOXs) and woody bamboo species (18 GanWOXs, 27 PheWOXs, and 26 BamWOXs) were identified and categorized into three clades based on their phylogenetic relationship-ancient, intermediate, or WUS clade. Polyploidy is the major driver of the expansion of the bamboo WOX family. Eight conserved domains, besides the homeodomain, were identified by comparatively analyzing the WOXs of dicot and monocot species. Intensive purifying selection pressure in the coding region of specific domains explained the functional similarity of WOXs between different species. For Bambusoideae WOXs, polyploidy is the major driver of the expansion of the WOX family. Stronger purifying selection was found in orthologous WOXs of Bambusoideae, especially for WOX4s and WOX5s, which are conserved not only at the translational levels, but also at the genome level. Several conserved cis-acting elements were discovered at similar position in the promoters of the orthologous WOXs. For example, AP2/ERF protein-binding elements and B3 protein-binding elements were found in the promoters of the bamboo WOX4, while MYB protein-binding elements and Dof protein-binding elements were found in the promoters of bamboo WOX5, and MADS protein-binding sites was found in the promoters of bamboo WUS, WOX3, and WOX9. These conserved positions may play an important role in regulating the expression of bamboo WOXs. Our work provides insight into the origin and evolution of bamboo WOXs, and will facilitate functional investigations of the clonal propagation of bamboos.

Dataset Information

The WUS homeobox-containing (WOX) protein family.

Publications

The WUS homeobox-containing (WOX) protein family.

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