Cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase regulates plant stem cell maintenance under oxidative stress.

GAPDH regulates plant stem cell maintenance. WUSCHEL (WUS) and WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX) family proteins are vital for maintaining the homeostasis of stem cells, which is necessary for the continuous growth and the development of plants. Plants frequently encounter environmental stress that can lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species, such as hydrogen peroxide (HO). However, the exact ways in which plant stem cells sense and respond to HO signals remain unclear. This research indicates that cytosolic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) helps regulate stem cell maintenance in Arabidopsis in response to HO. Hydrogen peroxide causes the relocation of two cytosolic GAPDH proteins, GAPC1 and GAPC2, from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. These isoforms interact with WUS/WOX proteins and modulate the expression of the WUS/WOX gene by binding to its promoter. When the expression of GAPC1 and GAPC2 is decreased, stem cell homeostasis and overall plant growth become more sensitive to HO. Thus, cytosolic GAPDH may serve as a sensor for HO, influencing the maintenance of plant stem cells under oxidative stress.