WOXfamily

The WOX family, short for WUSCHEL-related homeobox, is a plant-specific group of transcription factors that regulate key developmental processes. Core features include a conserved homeodomain for DNA binding and variable N- and C-terminal regions that modulate activity and interactions with other proteins. WOX genes are found across land plants and have diversified into distinct groups with specialized roles in growth and patterning.

Most prominently, WOX genes govern stem cell maintenance in the shoot and root apical meristems, playing a central role in sustaining undifferentiated cell populations while allowing organized organ formation. Other WOX members contribute to embryogenesis, cell fate specification, and lateral organ development. Some members also participate in regeneration and the formation of new roots or shoots after injury. In several species, certain WOX proteins can move between cells, enabling non-cell-autonomous signaling that helps coordinate meristem architecture and development.

Phylogenetically, WOX genes are divided into three major clades: ancient, intermediate, and WUS. This three-clade organization reflects evolutionary diversification and functional specialization that emerged during plant evolution. In model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana, well-studied members include WUS and WOX5, which regulate shoot- and root-meristem maintenance, respectively, and WOX4, associated with vascular development and growth. The WOX family continues to be a focal point of research into how transcriptional networks control plant form, regeneration, and evolution, with ongoing work expanding knowledge of their diversity and interactions across species.