WUS — Brassica napus

Summary

BnWUS (WUS, BnPGA6) on chromosome A09 of oilseed rape encodes a WUSCHEL-like homeodomain protein that binds DNA, RNA and protein, and localises to the nucleus, nucleolus and plant-type cell wall. The gene is associated with shoot apical meristem maintenance, stem cell population maintenance, axillary shoot meristem initiation, stomium and anther development, auxin transport and biosynthesis, root hair tip growth, circadian rhythm, and rRNA, snoRNA and tRNA processing. Traits linked to BnWUS include floral organ size, leaf morphology and position, inflorescence and gynoecium development, flowering time, auxin sensitivity, plant stress response, and shoot and root meristem development. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to shoot meristem regulation, stem cell identity, embryo development, somatic embryogenesis, and shoot regeneration efficiency.