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Abstract The precise regulation of stem cells in the shoot apical meristems (SAMs) involves the function of the homeodomain transcription factor (TF)‐WUSCHEL (WUS). WUS has been shown to move from the site of production‐the rib‐meristem (RM), into overlaying cells of the central zone (CZ), where it specifies stem cells and also regulates the transcription ofCLAVATA3 (CLV3). The secreted signalling peptide CLV3 activates a receptor kinase signalling that restrictsWUStranscription and also regulates the nuclear gradient of WUS by offsetting nuclear export. WUS has been shown to regulate bothCLV3levels and spatial activation, restricting its expression to a few cells in the CZ. The HAIRY MERISTEM (HAM), a GRASS‐domain class of TFs expressed in the RM, has been shown to physically interact with WUS and regulateCLV3expression. However, the mechanisms by which this interaction regulatesCLV3expression non‐cell autonomously remain unclear. Here, we show that HAM function is required for regulating the WUS protein stability, and theCLV3expression responds to altered WUS protein levels inhammutants. Thus, HAM proteins non‐cell autonomously regulatesCLV3expression.
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CLAVATA3 mediated simultaneous control of transcriptional and post-translational processes provides robustness to the WUSCHEL gradient
Abstract Regulation of the homeodomain transcription factor WUSCHEL concentration is critical for stem cell homeostasis inArabidopsisshoot apical meristems. WUSCHEL regulates the transcription ofCLAVATA3through a concentration-dependent activation-repression switch.CLAVATA3, a secreted peptide, activates receptor kinase signaling to repressWUSCHELtranscription. Considering the revised regulation,CLAVATA3mediated repression ofWUSCHELtranscription alone will lead to an unstable system. Here we show thatCLAVATA3signaling regulates nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning ofWUSCHELto control nuclear levels and its diffusion into adjacent cells. Our work also reveals that WUSCHEL directly interacts with EXPORTINS via EAR-like domain which is also required for destabilizing WUSCHEL in the cytoplasm. We develop a combined experimental and computational modeling approach that integratesCLAVATA3-mediated transcriptional repression ofWUSCHELand post-translational control of nuclear levels with the WUSCHEL concentration-dependent regulation ofCLAVATA3. We show that the dual control by the same signal forms a seamless connection between de novo WUSCHEL synthesis and sub-cellular partitioning in providing robustness to the WUSCHEL gradient.
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- PAR ID:
- 10307735
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 12
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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