Functional analysis of the WUSCHEL HOMEOBOX (WOX) gene family in Arabidopsis

拟南芥WOX同源框基因家族包括15个基因，其编码具有独特的植物特异性同源结构域和功能未知的额外基序的蛋白质。我们已经分离出14个WOX开放阅读框的cDNA，并表明大多数WOX基因在小群体的未成熟细胞中瞬时表达，表明在细胞类型特异性发育中的重要作用。然而，正向遗传筛选鉴定了两个在细胞命运规范中具有关键功能的WOX基因的突变体，但没有发现任何其他WOX基因的突变。与此一致，我们的初步遗传研究表明，该转录因子家族成员之间的功能冗余。因此，为了了解WOX基因家族的功能，需要采用系统的反向遗传方法。为此目的，我们将首先研究的过程中，WOX基因的功能使用功能的损失和获得的方法。第二，我们将寻求整合WOX活动到调控网络，通过研究它们与已知的植物发育调控因子的遗传相互作用，并通过分析蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用。在我们的准备工作中，我们已经建立了许多工具（突变体，转基因株系，互作），以允许及时阐明WOX基因的功能，有希望增加我们的知识，植物细胞类型的发展，通过转录调控。

The Arabidopsis WOX homeobox gene family comprises 15 genes encoding proteins with a unique and plant specific homeodomain and an additional motif of yet unknown function. We have isolated cDNAs for 14 WOX open reading frames and showed that most WOX genes are expressed transiently in small groups of immature cells, suggesting important roles in cell type specific development. However, forward genetic screens identified mutants for two WOX genes with crucial functions in cell fate specification, but did not uncover mutations in any other WOX gene. Consistent with this, our preliminary genetic studies show functional redundancy between members of this transcription factor family. Thus, to understand the functions of the WOX gene family a systematic reverse genetic approach needs to be employed. For this purpose, we will first examine the processes in which WOX genes function using both loss and gain-of-function approaches. Second, we will seek to integrate WOX activities into regulatory networks by studying their genetic interactions with known regulators of plant development and by analyzing protein-protein interactions. In our preparatory work, we have already established many tools (mutants, transgenic lines, interactors) to allow for a timely elucidation of WOX gene function, promising to increase our knowledge of plant cell type development by transcriptional regulation.