The role of WOX genes regulating apical embryo patterning

发育中的一个中心问题是多细胞生物如何从单细胞受精卵产生。对植物的研究表明，转录因子和信号通路是主体轴形成和随后器官和组织启动的重要组成部分。在拟南芥中，WUSCHEL同源框（WOX）基因家族包括几个成员，在胚胎发育过程中从合子阶段开始以非常特异和动态的模式表达，但单突变体分析尚未揭示其功能。在之前的资助期间，我们对多个突变体组合的研究已经确定了一个WOX基因网络，该网络调节顶端胚胎结构域的模式，这表明WOX介导的转录控制是建立拟南芥体计划的重要组成部分。我们发现，这种WOX基因网络调节生长素分布的梯度和PINFORMED 1（PIN 1）基因的表达，该基因编码一种生长素转运促进蛋白，在早期胚胎形成过程中，在转录程序和激素信号传导之间建立了一种令人兴奋的联系。在这个建议中，我们将调查潜在的分子机制，其中WOX基因的功能在顶端胚胎图案。

One of the central questions in development is how a multicellular organism arises from a single celled zygote. Studies in plants identified transcriptional factors and signaling pathways as important components in the formation of the main body axes and the subsequent initiation of organs and tissues. In Arabidopsis thaliana the WUSCHEL homeobox (WOX) gene family includes several members that are expressed in very specific and dynamic patterns during embryo development from the zygote stage onwards, but single mutant analysis has not revealed their function. In the previous funding period, our studies of multiple mutant combinations has identified a network of WOX genes that regulate patterning of the apical embryo domain, suggesting that WOX mediated transcriptional control is an essential component of establishing the Arabidopsis body plan. We identified that this WOX gene network regulates gradients of auxin distribution and expression of the PINFORMED1 (PIN1) gene, which encodes an auxin transport facilitating protein, establishing an exciting link between transcription programs and hormone signaling during early embryo patterning. In this proposal we will investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which WOX genes function in apical embryo patterning.