KNAT1STM

KNAT1STM is a term encountered in plant developmental genetics that describes either a synthetic construct combining features of KNAT1 and STM or, more broadly, the functional interplay between the KNAT1 (KNOX1) and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) regulators in Arabidopsis thaliana. The exact meaning varies by study, and KNAT1STM is not a universally defined single gene. In some contexts it denotes a chimeric gene design used to probe domain contributions to meristem activity; in others it refers to a regulatory module in which KNAT1 and STM operate together to sustain the shoot apical meristem.

KNAT1 is a class I KNOX transcription factor that contributes to meristem maintenance and leaf morphology, while STM is essential for the initiation and maintenance of the shoot apical meristem. Loss-of-function stm mutants fail to establish a functional SAM, leading to defects in organ initiation; ectopic expression of KNOX genes can induce meristem-like tissue in atypical locations. The KNAT1-STM relationship is thus central to understanding how persistent meristem activity is achieved during plant development.

Research involving KNAT1STM typically investigates genetic interactions, regulatory targets, and downstream networks between KNAT1 and STM. Common approaches include genetic crosses, reporter gene analyses, quantitative expression assays, and in situ hybridization, paired with detailed phenotypic characterization. These studies aim to clarify how KNAT1 and STM coordinate hormonal signaling and transcriptional programs to control meristem size, maintenance, and organogenesis.

See also: KNOX gene family; SHOOT MERISTEMLESS; Shoot apical meristem; Arabidopsis thaliana.