Newly found functions and regulatory networks of WOX family: what else does the WOX say?

This review summarizes recent findings on WOX transcription factors, highlighting their roles in development, stress response, and metabolic signaling in various species, along with their potential applications in agriculture. The WOX (WUSCHEL-related homeobox) family is known to coordinate various plant biological processes, including embryogenesis, apical and lateral meristem maintenance, regeneration, and vegetative and reproductive organ formation. Over the past five years, significant advances have expanded our understanding of WOX proteins, revealing novel interactors, downstream targets, and both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Notably, metabolic enzymes have been shown to modulate WOX gene activity, and the interplay between WOX genes and CLE (CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED) peptides has been further clarified. Additionally, previously unknown functions have been discovered for many WOX family members across all phylogenetic clades, including roles in stress response. This review synthesizes recent findings on Arabidopsis WOX genes and their orthologs across diverse species, highlighting newly identified mechanisms that fine-tune WOX activity during plant development and environmental adaptation.