title: A Rosa canina WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene, RcWOX1, is involved in auxin-induced rhizoid formation.
abstract: Homeobox (HB) proteins are important transcription factors that regulate the developmental decisions of eukaryotes. WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors, known as a plant-specific HB family, play a key role in plant developmental processes. Our previous work has indicated that rhizoids are induced by auxin in rose (Rosa spp.), which acts as critical part of an efficient plant regeneration system. However, the function of WOX genes in auxin-induced rhizoid formation remains unclear. Here, we isolated and characterized a WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene from Rosa canina, RcWOX1, containing a typical homeodomain with 65 amino acid residues. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that RcWOX1 was expressed in the whole process of callus formation and in the early stage of rhizoid formation. Moreover, its expression was induced by auxin treatment. In Arabidopsis transgenic lines expressing the RcWOX1pro::GUS and 35S::GFP-RcWOX1, RcWOX1 was specifically expressed in roots and localized to the nucleus. Overexpression of RcWOX1 in Arabidopsis increased lateral root density and induced upregulation of PIN1 and PIN7 genes. Therefore, we postulated that RcWOX1 is a functional transcription factor that plays an essential role in auxin-induced rhizoid formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Lusheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Yaping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Liangjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D027826:Rosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors