WUS — Brassica napus

Summary

BnWUS (WUS, BnWUS1) on chromosome C03 of oilseed rape encodes a WUSCHEL-like homeodomain transcription factor that binds DNA, RNA and protein, and localises to the nucleus, nucleolus and plant-type cell wall. It is associated with stem cell population maintenance, shoot apical meristem identity and development, axillary shoot meristem initiation, plant organ formation, stomium and anther development, auxin transport and anabolism, root hair tip growth, circadian rhythm, and rRNA, snoRNA and tRNA processing. Traits linked to BnWUS include shoot meristem and root meristem development, floral organ size and development, anther morphology, leaf morphology and position, flowering time, plant stress response, auxin sensitivity, cell cycle, embryo development, and shoot branching. Related genes in other species are linked to shoot meristem regulation, stem cell identity, somatic embryogenesis and embryo development.