WUS — Brassica napus

Summary

BnWUS (WUS, BnPGA6) on chromosome C09 of oilseed rape encodes a WUSCHEL-like homeodomain transcription factor that binds DNA, RNA and protein and localises to the nucleus and nucleolus. The gene is associated with maintenance of shoot apical meristem identity, stem cell population maintenance, axillary shoot meristem initiation, callus formation, regeneration, dedifferentiation, stomium development, auxin transport and anabolism, hormone anabolism, root hair tip growth, and glutathione metabolism. Traits linked to BnWUS include floral organ size, anther morphology, cytoplasmic male sterility, shoot meristem development, leaf morphology and position, flowering time, plant stress response, root morphology, embryo development, and cell cycle traits. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to shoot meristem regulation, stem cell identity, somatic embryogenesis, and shoot regeneration efficiency.