title: The rice WUSCHEL-related homeobox genes are involved in reproductive organ development, hormone signaling and abiotic stress response.
abstract: The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes are important transcription regulators participated in plant development processes. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome encodes at least 13 WOX members. In this study, a systematic microarray-based gene expression profiling of eleven WOX genes was performed for the whole life cycle of rice at 16 different tissues/organs of MH63 (rice indica cultivar), which included eight reproductive organs and eight vegetative tissues. The results demonstrated that four genes (OsWUS, OsNS1/OsNS2, OsWOX3 and OsWOX9A) were specifically expressed in panicle and endosperm development, and six genes (OsWOX5, OsWOX9B, OsWOX9D, OsWOX11, OsWOX12A and OsWOX12B) were preferentially expressed in seeds (72h after imbibitions) during root emergence or growth. In situ hybridization analysis revealed differential transcript levels of OsWOX4, OsWOX5, OsWOX9A and OsWOX12B during panicle development and embryogenesis. Results of qRT-PCR showed that expression of four rice WOX genes (OsWOX5, OsWOX11, OsWOX12B and OsWOX12A) was up- or down-regulated by plant hormones (auxin, cytokinin and gibberellin). More interestingly, most WOX genes were responsive to abiotic stress stimuli of drought, salt and cold. The molecular studies presented here will further provide insight in understanding the functions of rice WOX gene family in rice development, hormone signaling, and abiotic stress response.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: compilcated@webmail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Saifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: huangyulan@webmail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yulan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: zhuning88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: zhaoyu@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017343:Genes, Plant; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual / Q000235:genetics*; D017385:Sequence Homology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; C116421:WUSCHEL protein, Arabidopsis
keywords: Abiotic stress; Development; Hormone response; Rice; WOX genes