The latest PNAS article from Nanjing University: How a small protein can help flowers grow on time and correctly

In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Nanjing University and other places revealed the multiple roles of a small protein in ensuring that the reproductive organs of flowers are formed in a short time
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Flowers develop from floral meristems, which differentiate to produce sepals, petals, stamens and carpels
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The researchers said that a small protein called KNUCKLES (KNU) directly inhibits WUS, which leads to the completion of flower stem cell activity at the correct time.
It is not entirely clear how the vigorous flower stem cell activity can be completed within a limited time.
Ensure development
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The team’s research shows that in Arabidopsis, KNU can completely inactivate the strong floral meristem at a specific flower stage, thanks to the multiple functions of KNU through its specific location
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KNU inhibits and silences WUS at the same time, and directly inhibits CLV3 and CLV1 (the gene encoding the CLV3 peptide receptor)
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"Our research results reveal a regulatory pathway in which KNU plays a key role in supporting the development of flower meristems within a short time window and ensuring the correct formation of flower reproductive organs," the corresponding author, Sun Bo, Nanjing University of Science and Technology The professor said
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The results of this research will be useful for genetic research on food crops such as rice, tomato and corn
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Journal Reference :

1. Erlei Shang, Xin Wang, Tinghan Li, Fengfei Guo, Toshiro Ito, Bo Sun.