title: Two WUSCHEL-related HOMEOBOX genes, PeWOX11a and PeWOX11b, are involved in adventitious root formation of poplar.
abstract: The plant-specific WUSCHEL-related HOMEOBOX (WOX) transcription factors play important roles in key developmental processes, but knowledge regarding functional characterization of WOX genes in poplar remains limited. To reveal genes and signaling pathways associated with adventitious rooting in poplar, here we isolated and characterized two WOX genes through the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), sequence aligning, expression profiling, protoplast transfection and poplar transformation. Detailed information about the sequence similarity, structural features, evolutionary relationships, expression patterns and subcellular localization of the two genes were revealed. Overexpression of either PeWOX11a or PeWOX11b not only increased the number of adventitious roots on the cuttings but also induced ectopic roots in the aerial parts of transgenic poplars. Meanwhile, their overexpression in transgenic poplars affected axillary bud and leaf development. These results suggest that PeWOX11a and PeWOX11b were involved in multiple developmental processes of poplar, especially in adventitious root formation. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying adventitious root formation of poplar.
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.|Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.|Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Wenfan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.|Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology, Nanjing Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Minren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins