KNOX基因结构及其调控植物发育研究进展

KNOX homeobox protein (Knotted1-like homebox, KNOX) is a homeodomain transcription factor, whose function is to maintain cells pluripotency in plant apical meristem. In monocots, KNOX gene is not only expressed in the shoot apical meristem tissues, but also expressed in leaf primordia through leaf anatomical research. It is suggested that this genes family may also play a role in the formation process of leaves; by researching on the loss of function mutants found that: ectopic expression the gene can change the shape of leaves and petals. In plants, KNOX protein regulates its target genes to regulate hormones in the meristem homeostasis; at the same time it interactions with another homeotic domain BELL subfamily proteins; ultimately to regulate gibberellin and lignin biosynthetic pathway, which is to determine cell fate. In the article, we will review the structure, expression, regulation of plant development and other aspects of KNOX gene.