title: WUSCHEL protein movement mediates stem cell homeostasis in the Arabidopsis shoot apex.
abstract: WUSCHEL (WUS) is a homeodomain transcription factor produced in cells of the niche/organizing center (OC) of shoot apical meristems. WUS specifies stem cell fate and also restricts its own levels by activating a negative regulator, CLAVATA3 (CLV3), in adjacent cells of the central zone (CZ). Here we show that the WUS protein, after being synthesized in cells of the OC, migrates into the CZ, where it activates CLV3 transcription by binding to its promoter elements. Using a computational model, we show that maintenance of the WUS gradient is essential to regulate stem cell number. Migration of a stem cell-inducing transcription factor into adjacent cells to activate a negative regulator, thereby restricting its own accumulation, is a theme that is unique to plant stem cell niches.
authors: Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Center for Plant Cell Biology (CEPCEB), Institute of Integrative Genome Biology (IIGB), University of California at Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
authors: Ram Kishor
authors: RK
authors: Yadav
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Perales
authors: Jérémy
authors: J
authors: Gruel
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Girke
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Jönsson
authors: G Venugopala
authors: GV
authors: Reddy
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D008954:Models, Biological; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D021381:Protein Transport; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C118167:AT2G27250 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C116421:WUSCHEL protein, Arabidopsis