Skip to content
Login Register

#WUS

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

plant Development -ll

Organizing center expresses:

Organizing center in shoot apical meristem is small group of cells at base of central zone directly beneath totipotent stem cells functioning as niche organizer analogous to animal stem cell niches. It uniquely expresses WUSCHEL transcription factor whose protein migrates via plasmodesmata to overlying central zone conferring stem cell identity and activating CLV3 peptide expression. WUS expression is positively regulated by cytokinin via ARR, HAM GRAS factors, and low auxin, and negatively by CLV signaling through feedback loop. Thus organizing center serves as signaling source orchestrating meristem homeostasis and size maintenance.

Ref: Laux et al., Development 1996; Mayer et al.: Organizing center expresses WUSCHEL transcription factor in SAM.

View Details
plant Development -ll

WUSCHEL (WUS) primarily maintains:

WUSCHEL encodes homeodomain transcription factor expressed specifically in organizing center cells located below central zone of shoot apical meristem. WUS protein moves via plasmodesmata upward into L1-L3 central zone stem cells where it represses differentiation-promoting regulators ASYMMETRIC LEAVES, KANADI, and YABBY while maintaining pluripotency. Additionally WUS directly activates CLV3 transcription in stem cells; secreted CLV3 peptide signals back through LRR receptors CLV1 homodimer and CLV2-CORYNE heterodimer to repress WUS, forming exquisite negative feedback loop that maintains constant stem cell number supporting lifelong indeterminate shoot organogenesis.

Ref: Mayer et al., Nature; Laux et al., Development: WUSCHEL maintains stem cell identity in shoot apical meristem via CLV feedback.

View Details