TY - JOUR AB - Plants are continuously exposed to a myriad of external signals such as fluctuating nutrients availability, drought, heat, cold, high salinity, or pathogen/pest attacks that can severely affect their development, growth, and fertility. As sessile organisms, plants must therefore be able to sense and rapidly react to these external inputs, activate efficient responses, and adjust development to changing conditions. In recent years, significant progress has been made towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the intricate and complex communication between plants and the environment. It is now becoming increasingly evident that hormones have an important regulatory role in plant adaptation and defense mechanisms. AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1269 IS - 6 JF - Plant Molecular Biology TI - Plant hormones in interactions with the environment VL - 91 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Lateral root primordia (LRP) originate from pericycle stem cells located deep within parental root tissues. LRP emerge through overlying root tissues by inducing auxin-dependent cell separation and hydraulic changes in adjacent cells. The auxin-inducible auxin influx carrier LAX3 plays a key role concentrating this signal in cells overlying LRP. Delimiting LAX3 expression to two adjacent cell files overlying new LRP is crucial to ensure that auxin-regulated cell separation occurs solely along their shared walls. Multiscale modeling has predicted that this highly focused pattern of expression requires auxin to sequentially induce auxin efflux and influx carriers PIN3 and LAX3, respectively. Consistent with model predictions, we report that auxin-inducible LAX3 expression is regulated indirectly by AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 7 (ARF7). Yeast one-hybrid screens revealed that the LAX3 promoter is bound by the transcription factor LBD29, which is a direct target for regulation by ARF7. Disrupting auxin-inducible LBD29 expression or expressing an LBD29-SRDX transcriptional repressor phenocopied the lax3 mutant, resulting in delayed lateral root emergence. We conclude that sequential LBD29 and LAX3 induction by auxin is required to coordinate cell separation and organ emergence. AU - Porco, Silvana AU - Larrieu, Antoine AU - Du, Yujuan AU - Gaudinier, Allison AU - Goh, Tatsuaki AU - Swarup, Kamal AU - Swarup, Ranjan AU - Kuempers, Britta AU - Bishopp, Anthony AU - Lavenus, Julien AU - Casimiro, Ilda AU - Hill, Kristine AU - Benková, Eva AU - Fukaki, Hidehiro AU - Brady, Siobhan AU - Scheres, Ben AU - Peéet, Benjamin AU - Bennett, Malcolm ID - 1273 IS - 18 JF - Development TI - Lateral root emergence in Arabidopsis is dependent on transcription factor LBD29 regulation of auxin influx carrier LAX3 VL - 143 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plants are able to modulate root growth and development to optimize their nitrogen nutrition. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), the adaptive root response to nitrate (NO3 -) depends on the NRT1.1/NPF6.3 transporter/sensor. NRT1.1 represses emergence of lateral root primordia (LRPs) at low concentration or absence of NO3 - through its auxin transport activity that lowers auxin accumulation in LR. However, these functional data strongly contrast with the known transcriptional regulation of NRT1.1, which is markedly repressed in LRPs in the absence of NO3 -. To explain this discrepancy, we investigated in detail the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the NRT1.1 protein during LRP development and combined local transcript analysis with the use of transgenic lines expressing tagged NRT1.1 proteins. Our results show that although NO3 - stimulates NRT1.1 transcription and probably mRNA stability both in primary root tissues and in LRPs, it acts differentially on protein accumulation, depending on the tissues considered with stimulation in cortex and epidermis of the primary root and a strong repression in LRPs and to a lower extent at the primary root tip. This demonstrates that NRT1.1 is strongly regulated at the posttranscriptional level by tissue-specific mechanisms. These mechanisms are crucial for controlling the large palette of adaptive responses to NO3 - mediated by NRT1.1 as they ensure that the protein is present in the proper tissue under the specific conditions where it plays a signaling role in this particular tissue. AU - Bouguyon, Eléonore AU - Perrine Walker, Francine AU - Pervent, Marjorie AU - Rochette, Juliette AU - Cuesta, Candela AU - Benková, Eva AU - Martinière, Alexandre AU - Bach, Lien AU - Krouk, Gabriel AU - Gojon, Alain AU - Nacry, Philippe ID - 1281 IS - 2 JF - Plant Physiology TI - Nitrate controls root development through posttranscriptional regulation of the NRT1.1/NPF6.3 transporter sensor VL - 172 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The impact of the plant hormone ethylene on seedling development has long been recognized; however, its ecophysiological relevance is unexplored. Three recent studies demonstrate that ethylene is a critical endogenous integrator of various environmental signals including mechanical stress, light, and oxygen availability during seedling germination and growth through the soil. AU - Zhu, Qiang AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1283 IS - 10 JF - Trends in Plant Science TI - Seedlings’ strategy to overcome a soil barrier VL - 21 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Cytokinin is a phytohormone that is well known for its roles in numerous plant growth and developmental processes, yet it has also been linked to abiotic stress response in a less defined manner. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Cytokinin Response Factor 6 (CRF6) is a cytokinin-responsive AP2/ERF-family transcription factor that, through the cytokinin signaling pathway, plays a key role in the inhibition of dark-induced senescence. CRF6 expression is also induced by oxidative stress, and here we show a novel function for CRF6 in relation to oxidative stress and identify downstream transcriptional targets of CRF6 that are repressed in response to oxidative stress. Analysis of transcriptomic changes in wild-type and crf6 mutant plants treated with H2O2 identified CRF6-dependent differentially expressed transcripts, many of which were repressed rather than induced. Moreover, many repressed genes also show decreased expression in 35S:CRF6 overexpressing plants. Together, these findings suggest that CRF6 functions largely as a transcriptional repressor. Interestingly, among the H2O2 repressed CRF6-dependent transcripts was a set of five genes associated with cytokinin processes: (signaling) ARR6, ARR9, ARR11, (biosynthesis) LOG7, and (transport) ABCG14. We have examined mutants of these cytokinin-associated target genes to reveal novel connections to oxidative stress. Further examination of CRF6-DNA interactions indicated that CRF6 may regulate its targets both directly and indirectly. Together, this shows that CRF6 functions during oxidative stress as a negative regulator to control this cytokinin-associated module of CRF6- dependent genes and establishes a novel connection between cytokinin and oxidative stress response. AU - Zwack, Paul AU - De Clercq, Inge AU - Howton, Timothy AU - Hallmark, H Tucker AU - Hurny, Andrej AU - Keshishian, Erika AU - Parish, Alyssa AU - Benková, Eva AU - Mukhtar, M Shahid AU - Van Breusegem, Frank AU - Rashotte, Aaron ID - 1331 IS - 2 JF - Plant Physiology SN - 0032-0889 TI - Cytokinin response factor 6 represses cytokinin-associated genes during oxidative stress VL - 172 ER - TY - JOUR AB - To sustain a lifelong ability to initiate organs, plants retain pools of undifferentiated cells with a preserved prolif eration capacity. The root pericycle represents a unique tissue with conditional meristematic activity, and its tight control determines initiation of lateral organs. Here we show that the meristematic activity of the pericycle is constrained by the interaction with the adjacent endodermis. Release of these restraints by elimination of endo dermal cells by single-cell ablation triggers the pericycle to re-enter the cell cycle. We found that endodermis removal substitutes for the phytohormone auxin-dependent initiation of the pericycle meristematic activity. However, auxin is indispensable to steer the cell division plane orientation of new organ-defining divisions. We propose a dual, spatiotemporally distinct role for auxin during lateral root initiation. In the endodermis, auxin releases constraints arising from cell-to-cell interactions that compromise the pericycle meristematic activity, whereas, in the pericycle, auxin defines the orientation of the cell division plane to initiate lateral roots. AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Montesinos López, Juan C AU - Abuzeineh, Anas AU - Van Damme, Daniël AU - Vermeer, Joop AU - Duclercq, Jérôme AU - Rakusova, Hana AU - Marhavá, Petra AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Geldner, Niko AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1492 IS - 4 JF - Genes and Development TI - Targeted cell elimination reveals an auxin-guided biphasic mode of lateral root initiation VL - 30 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Synchronized tissue polarization during regeneration or de novo vascular tissue formation is a plant-specific example of intercellular communication and coordinated development. According to the canalization hypothesis, the plant hormone auxin serves as polarizing signal that mediates directional channel formation underlying the spatio-temporal vasculature patterning. A necessary part of canalization is a positive feedback between auxin signaling and polarity of the intercellular auxin flow. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood, not the least, because of a lack of a suitable model system. We show that the main genetic model plant, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) can be used to study the canalization during vascular cambium regeneration and new vasculature formation. We monitored localized auxin responses, directional auxin-transport channels formation, and establishment of new vascular cambium polarity during regenerative processes after stem wounding. The increased auxin response above and around the wound preceded the formation of PIN1 auxin transporter-marked channels from the primarily homogenous tissue and the transient, gradual changes in PIN1 localization preceded the polarity of newly formed vascular tissue. Thus, Arabidopsis is a useful model for studies of coordinated tissue polarization and vasculature formation after wounding allowing for genetic and mechanistic dissection of the canalization hypothesis. AU - Mazur, Ewa AU - Benková, Eva AU - Friml, Jirí ID - 1274 JF - Scientific Reports TI - Vascular cambium regeneration and vessel formation in wounded inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis VL - 6 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plant sexual reproduction involves highly structured and specialized organs: stamens (male) and gynoecia (female, containing ovules). These organs synchronously develop within protective flower buds, until anthesis, via tightly coordinated mechanisms that are essential for effective fertilization and production of viable seeds. The phytohormone auxin is one of the key endogenous signalling molecules controlling initiation and development of these, and other, plant organs. In particular, its uneven distribution, resulting from tightly controlled production, metabolism and directional transport, is an important morphogenic factor. In this review we discuss how developmentally controlled and localized auxin biosynthesis and transport contribute to the coordinated development of plants' reproductive organs, and their fertilized derivatives (embryos) via the regulation of auxin levels and distribution within and around them. Current understanding of the links between de novo local auxin biosynthesis, auxin transport and/or signalling is presented to highlight the importance of the non-cell autonomous action of auxin production on development and morphogenesis of reproductive organs and embryos. An overview of transcription factor families, which spatiotemporally define local auxin production by controlling key auxin biosynthetic enzymes, is also presented. AU - Robert, Hélène AU - Crhák Khaitová, Lucie AU - Mroue, Souad AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1540 IS - 16 JF - Journal of Experimental Botany TI - The importance of localized auxin production for morphogenesis of reproductive organs and embryos in Arabidopsis VL - 66 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Multiple plant developmental processes, such as lateral root development, depend on auxin distribution patterns that are in part generated by the PIN-formed family of auxin-efflux transporters. Here we propose that AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR7 (ARF7) and the ARF7-regulated FOUR LIPS/MYB124 (FLP) transcription factors jointly form a coherent feed-forward motif that mediates the auxin-responsive PIN3 transcription in planta to steer the early steps of lateral root formation. This regulatory mechanism might endow the PIN3 circuitry with a temporal 'memory' of auxin stimuli, potentially maintaining and enhancing the robustness of the auxin flux directionality during lateral root development. The cooperative action between canonical auxin signalling and other transcription factors might constitute a general mechanism by which transcriptional auxin-sensitivity can be regulated at a tissue-specific level. AU - Chen, Qian AU - Liu, Yang AU - Maere, Steven AU - Lee, Eunkyoung AU - Van Isterdael, Gert AU - Xie, Zidian AU - Xuan, Wei AU - Lucas, Jessica AU - Vassileva, Valya AU - Kitakura, Saeko AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Wabnik, Krzysztof T AU - Geldner, Niko AU - Benková, Eva AU - Le, Jie AU - Fukaki, Hidehiro AU - Grotewold, Erich AU - Li, Chuanyou AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Sack, Fred AU - Beeckman, Tom AU - Vanneste, Steffen ID - 1574 JF - Nature Communications TI - A coherent transcriptional feed-forward motif model for mediating auxin-sensitive PIN3 expression during lateral root development VL - 6 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plants are sessile organisms that are permanently restricted to their site of germination. To compensate for their lack of mobility, plants evolved unique mechanisms enabling them to rapidly react to ever changing environmental conditions and flexibly adapt their postembryonic developmental program. A prominent demonstration of this developmental plasticity is their ability to bend organs in order to reach the position most optimal for growth and utilization of light, nutrients, and other resources. Shortly after germination, dicotyledonous seedlings form a bended structure, the so-called apical hook, to protect the delicate shoot meristem and cotyledons from damage when penetrating through the soil. Upon perception of a light stimulus, the apical hook rapidly opens and the photomorphogenic developmental program is activated. After germination, plant organs are able to align their growth with the light source and adopt the most favorable orientation through bending, in a process named phototropism. On the other hand, when roots and shoots are diverted from their upright orientation, they immediately detect a change in the gravity vector and bend to maintain a vertical growth direction. Noteworthy, despite the diversity of external stimuli perceived by different plant organs, all plant tropic movements share a common mechanistic basis: differential cell growth. In our review, we will discuss the molecular principles underlying various tropic responses with the focus on mechanisms mediating the perception of external signals, transduction cascades and downstream responses that regulate differential cell growth and consequently, organ bending. In particular, we highlight common and specific features of regulatory pathways in control of the bending of organs and a role for the plant hormone auxin as a key regulatory component. AU - Žádníková, Petra AU - Smet, Dajo AU - Zhu, Qiang AU - Van Der Straeten, Dominique AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1593 IS - 4 JF - Frontiers in Plant Science TI - Strategies of seedlings to overcome their sessile nature: Auxin in mobility control VL - 6 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Auxin and cytokinin are key endogenous regulators of plant development. Although cytokinin-mediated modulation of auxin distribution is a developmentally crucial hormonal interaction, its molecular basis is largely unknown. Here we show a direct regulatory link between cytokinin signalling and the auxin transport machinery uncovering a mechanistic framework for cytokinin-auxin cross-talk. We show that the CYTOKININ RESPONSE FACTORS (CRFs), transcription factors downstream of cytokinin perception, transcriptionally control genes encoding PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin transporters at a specific PIN CYTOKININ RESPONSE ELEMENT (PCRE) domain. Removal of this cis-regulatory element effectively uncouples PIN transcription from the CRF-mediated cytokinin regulation and attenuates plant cytokinin sensitivity. We propose that CRFs represent a missing cross-talk component that fine-tunes auxin transport capacity downstream of cytokinin signalling to control plant development. AU - Šimášková, Mária AU - O'Brien, José AU - Khan-Djamei, Mamoona AU - Van Noorden, Giel AU - Ötvös, Krisztina AU - Vieten, Anne AU - De Clercq, Inge AU - Van Haperen, Johanna AU - Cuesta, Candela AU - Hoyerová, Klára AU - Vanneste, Steffen AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Wabnik, Krzysztof T AU - Van Breusegem, Frank AU - Nowack, Moritz AU - Murphy, Angus AU - Friml, Jiřĺ AU - Weijers, Dolf AU - Beeckman, Tom AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1640 JF - Nature Communications TI - Cytokinin response factors regulate PIN-FORMED auxin transporters VL - 6 ER - TY - BOOK AB - Auxin is an important signaling compound in plants and vital for plant development and growth. The present book, Auxin and its Role in Plant Development, provides the reader with detailed and comprehensive insight into the functioning of the molecule on the whole and specifically in plant development. In the first part, the functioning, metabolism and signaling pathways of auxin in plants are explained, the second part depicts the specific role of auxin in plant development and the third part describes the interaction and functioning of the signaling compound upon stimuli of the environment. Each chapter is written by international experts in the respective field and designed for scientists and researchers in plant biology, plant development and cell biology to summarize the recent progress in understanding the role of auxin and suggest future perspectives for auxin research. ED - Zažímalová, Eva ED - Petrášek, Jan ED - Benková, Eva ID - 10811 SN - 9783709115251 TI - Auxin and Its Role in Plant Development ER - TY - JOUR AB - The prominent and evolutionarily ancient role of the plant hormone auxin is the regulation of cell expansion. Cell expansion requires ordered arrangement of the cytoskeleton but molecular mechanisms underlying its regulation by signalling molecules including auxin are unknown. Here we show in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana that in elongating cells exogenous application of auxin or redistribution of endogenous auxin induces very rapid microtubule re-orientation from transverse to longitudinal, coherent with the inhibition of cell expansion. This fast auxin effect requires auxin binding protein 1 (ABP1) and involves a contribution of downstream signalling components such as ROP6 GTPase, ROP-interactive protein RIC1 and the microtubule-severing protein katanin. These components are required for rapid auxin-and ABP1-mediated re-orientation of microtubules to regulate cell elongation in roots and dark-grown hypocotyls as well as asymmetric growth during gravitropic responses. AU - Chen, Xu AU - Grandont, Laurie AU - Li, Hongjiang AU - Hauschild, Robert AU - Paque, Sébastien AU - Abuzeineh, Anas AU - Rakusova, Hana AU - Benková, Eva AU - Perrot Rechenmann, Catherine AU - Friml, Jirí ID - 1862 IS - 729 JF - Nature SN - 0028-0836 TI - Inhibition of cell expansion by rapid ABP1-mediated auxin effect on microtubules VL - 516 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Germination of Arabidopsis seeds in darkness induces apical hook development, based on a tightly regulated differential growth coordinated by a multiple hormone cross-talk. Here, we endeavoured to clarify the function of brassinosteroids (BRs) and cross-talk with ethylene in hook development. An automated infrared imaging system was developed to study the kinetics of hook development in etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings. To ascertain the photomorphogenic control of hook opening, the system was equipped with an automatic light dimmer. We demonstrate that ethylene and BRs are indispensable for hook formation and maintenance. Ethylene regulation of hook formation functions partly through BRs, with BR feedback inhibition of ethylene action. Conversely, BR-mediated extension of hook maintenance functions partly through ethylene. Furthermore, we revealed that a short light pulse is sufficient to induce rapid hook opening. Our dynamic infrared imaging system allows high-resolution, kinetic imaging of up to 112 seedlings in a single experimental run. At this high throughput, it is ideally suited to rapidly gain insight in pathway networks. We demonstrate that BRs and ethylene cooperatively regulate apical hook development in a phase-dependent manner. Furthermore, we show that light is a predominant regulator of hook opening, inhibiting ethylene- and BR-mediated postponement of hook opening. AU - Smet, Dajo AU - Žádníková, Petra AU - Vandenbussche, Filip AU - Benková, Eva AU - Van Der Straeten, Dominique ID - 1922 IS - 4 JF - New Phytologist TI - Dynamic infrared imaging analysis of apical hook development in Arabidopsis: The case of brassinosteroids VL - 202 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The plant hormones auxin and cytokinin mutually coordinate their activities to control various aspects of development [1-9], and their crosstalk occurs at multiple levels [10, 11]. Cytokinin-mediated modulation of auxin transport provides an efficient means to regulate auxin distribution in plant organs. Here, we demonstrate that cytokinin does not merely control the overall auxin flow capacity, but might also act as a polarizing cue and control the auxin stream directionality during plant organogenesis. Cytokinin enhances the PIN-FORMED1 (PIN1) auxin transporter depletion at specific polar domains, thus rearranging the cellular PIN polarities and directly regulating the auxin flow direction. This selective cytokinin sensitivity correlates with the PIN protein phosphorylation degree. PIN1 phosphomimicking mutations, as well as enhanced phosphorylation in plants with modulated activities of PIN-specific kinases and phosphatases, desensitize PIN1 to cytokinin. Our results reveal conceptually novel, cytokinin-driven polarization mechanism that operates in developmental processes involving rapid auxin stream redirection, such as lateral root organogenesis, in which a gradual PIN polarity switch defines the growth axis of the newly formed organ. AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Duclercq, Jérôme AU - Weller, Benjamin AU - Feraru, Elena AU - Bielach, Agnieszka AU - Offringa, Remko AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Schwechheimer, Claus AU - Murphy, Angus AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1934 IS - 9 JF - Current Biology TI - Cytokinin controls polarity of PIN1-dependent Auxin transport during lateral root organogenesis VL - 24 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plant embryogenesis is regulated by differential distribution of the plant hormone auxin. However, the cells establishing these gradients during microspore embryogenesis remain to be identified. For the first time, we describe, using the DR5 or DR5rev reporter gene systems, the GFP- and GUS-based auxin biosensors to monitor auxin during Brassica napus androgenesis at cellular resolution in the initial stages. Our study provides evidence that the distribution of auxin changes during embryo development and depends on the temperature-inducible in vitro culture conditions. For this, microspores (mcs) were induced to embryogenesis by heat treatment and then subjected to genetic modification via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The duration of high temperature treatment had a significant influence on auxin distribution in isolated and in vitro-cultured microspores and on microspore-derived embryo development. In the “mild” heat-treated (1 day at 32 °C) mcs, auxin localized in a polar way already at the uni-nucleate microspore, which was critical for the initiation of embryos with suspensor-like structure. Assuming a mean mcs radius of 20 μm, endogenous auxin content in a single cell corresponded to concentration of 1.01 μM. In mcs subjected to a prolonged heat (5 days at 32 °C), although auxin concentration increased dozen times, auxin polarization was set up at a few-celled pro-embryos without suspensor. Those embryos were enclosed in the outer wall called the exine. The exine rupture was accompanied by the auxin gradient polarization. Relative quantitative estimation of auxin, using time-lapse imaging, revealed that primordia possess up to 1.3-fold higher amounts than those found in the root apices of transgenic MDEs in the presence of exogenous auxin. Our results show, for the first time, which concentration of endogenous auxin coincides with the first cell division and how the high temperature interplays with auxin, by what affects delay early establishing microspore polarity. Moreover, we present how the local auxin accumulation demonstrates the apical–basal axis formation of the androgenic embryo and directs the axiality of the adult haploid plant. AU - Dubas, Ewa AU - Moravčíková, Jana AU - Libantová, Jana AU - Matušíková, Ildikó AU - Benková, Eva AU - Zur, Iwona AU - Krzewska, Monika ID - 2059 IS - 5 JF - Protoplasma TI - The influence of heat stress on auxin distribution in transgenic B napus microspores and microspore derived embryos VL - 251 ER - TY - JOUR AB - The Balkan Peninsula, characterized by high rates of endemism, is recognised as one of the most diverse and species-rich areas of Europe. However, little is known about the origin of Balkan endemics. The present study addresses the phylogenetic position of the Balkan endemic Ranunculus wettsteinii, as well as its taxonomic status and relationship with the widespread R. parnassiifolius, based on nuclear DNA (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and plastid regions (rpl32-trnL, rps16-trnQ, trnK-matK and ycf6-psbM). Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses revealed a well-supported clade formed by accessions of R. wettsteinii. Furthermore, our phylogenetic and network analyses supported previous hypotheses of a likely allopolyploid origin for R. wettsteinii between R. montenegrinus and R. parnassiifolius, with the latter as the maternal parent. AU - Cires Rodriguez, Eduardo AU - Baltisberger, Matthias AU - Cuesta, Candela AU - Vargas, Pablo AU - Prieto, José ID - 2227 IS - 1 JF - Organisms Diversity and Evolution SN - 14396092 TI - Allopolyploid origin of the Balkan endemic Ranunculus wettsteinii (Ranunculaceae) inferred from nuclear and plastid DNA sequences VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plant-specific PIN-formed (PIN) efflux transporters for the plant hormone auxin are required for tissue-specific directional auxin transport and cellular auxin homeostasis. The Arabidopsis PIN protein family has been shown to play important roles in developmental processes such as embryogenesis, organogenesis, vascular tissue differentiation, root meristem patterning and tropic growth. Here we analyzed roles of the less characterised Arabidopsis PIN6 auxin transporter. PIN6 is auxin-inducible and is expressed during multiple auxin-regulated developmental processes. Loss of pin6 function interfered with primary root growth and lateral root development. Misexpression of PIN6 affected auxin transport and interfered with auxin homeostasis in other growth processes such as shoot apical dominance, lateral root primordia development, adventitious root formation, root hair outgrowth and root waving. These changes in auxin-regulated growth correlated with a reduction in total auxin transport as well as with an altered activity of DR5-GUS auxin response reporter. Overall, the data indicate that PIN6 regulates auxin homeostasis during plant development. AU - Cazzonelli, Christopher AU - Vanstraelen, Marleen AU - Simon, Sibu AU - Yin, Kuide AU - Carron Arthur, Ashley AU - Nisar, Nazia AU - Tarle, Gauri AU - Cuttriss, Abby AU - Searle, Iain AU - Benková, Eva AU - Mathesius, Ulrike AU - Masle, Josette AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Pogson, Barry ID - 2472 IS - 7 JF - PLoS One TI - Role of the Arabidopsis PIN6 auxin transporter in auxin homeostasis and auxin-mediated development VL - 8 ER - TY - JOUR AB - As soon as a seed germinates, plant growth relates to gravity to ensure that the root penetrates the soil and the shoot expands aerially. Whereas mechanisms of positive and negative orthogravitropism of primary roots and shoots are relatively well understood [1-3], lateral organs often show more complex growth behavior [4]. Lateral roots (LRs) seemingly suppress positive gravitropic growth and show a defined gravitropic set-point angle (GSA) that allows radial expansion of the root system (plagiotropism) [3, 4]. Despite its eminent importance for root architecture, it so far remains completely unknown how lateral organs partially suppress positive orthogravitropism. Here we show that the phytohormone auxin steers GSA formation and limits positive orthogravitropism in LR. Low and high auxin levels/signaling lead to radial or axial root systems, respectively. At a cellular level, it is the auxin transport-dependent regulation of asymmetric growth in the elongation zone that determines GSA. Our data suggest that strong repression of PIN4/PIN7 and transient PIN3 expression limit auxin redistribution in young LR columella cells. We conclude that PIN activity, by temporally limiting the asymmetric auxin fluxes in the tip of LRs, induces transient, differential growth responses in the elongation zone and, consequently, controls root architecture. AU - Rosquete, Michel AU - Von Wangenheim, Daniel AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Barbez, Elke AU - Stelzer, Ernst AU - Benková, Eva AU - Maizel, Alexis AU - Kleine Vehn, Jürgen ID - 2844 IS - 9 JF - Current Biology TI - An auxin transport mechanism restricts positive orthogravitropism in lateral roots VL - 23 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Lateral root (LR) formation is initiated when pericycle cells accumulate auxin, thereby acquiring founder cell (FC) status and triggering asymmetric cell divisions, giving rise to a new primordium. How this auxin maximum in pericycle cells builds up and remains focused is not understood. We report that the endodermis plays an active role in the regulation of auxin accumulation and is instructive for FCs to progress during the LR initiation (LRI) phase. We describe the functional importance of a PIN3 (PIN-formed) auxin efflux carrier-dependent hormone reflux pathway between overlaying endodermal and pericycle FCs. Disrupting this reflux pathway causes dramatic defects in the progress of FCs towards the next initiation phase. Our data identify an unexpected regulatory function for the endodermis in LRI as part of the fine-tuning mechanism that appears to act as a check point in LR organogenesis after FCs are specified. AU - Marhavy, Peter AU - Vanstraelen, Marleen AU - De Rybel, Bert AU - Zhaojun, Ding AU - Bennett, Malcolm AU - Beeckman, Tom AU - Benková, Eva ID - 2880 IS - 1 JF - EMBO Journal TI - Auxin reflux between the endodermis and pericycle promotes lateral root initiation VL - 32 ER -