DnaJ Proteins Regulate <i>WUS</i> Expression in Shoot Apical Meristem of Arabidopsis

• Main Authors: Tianqi Jia, Fan Li, Shuang Liu, Jin Dou, Tao Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: stem cell; WUS; DnaJ proteins
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/1/136

WUSCHEL (WUS) protein regulates stem cell function in shoot apical meristem of <i>Arabidopsis</i>. The expression of <i>WUS</i> gene is strictly regulated by developmental cues and environmental factors. As DnaJ domain-containing proteins, SDJ1 and SDJ3 have been proven to play an important role in transcriptional activation of promoter methylated genes. Here, we showed that three DnaJ domain-containing proteins including SDJ1 and SDJ3 can bind WUS protein as a complex, which further maintain the expression of <i>WUS</i> gene by binding to <i>WUS</i> promoter. We propose a model how DnaJ domain-containing proteins are involved in the self-regulation of <i>WUS</i> gene in stem cells maintenance of Arabidopsis.