TY - JOUR AB - Auxin directs plant ontogenesis via differential accumulation within tissues depending largely on the activity of PIN proteins that mediate auxin efflux from cells and its directional cell-to-cell transport. Regardless of the developmental importance of PINs, the structure of these transporters is poorly characterized. Here, we present experimental data concerning protein topology of plasma membrane-localized PINs. Utilizing approaches based on pH-dependent quenching of fluorescent reporters combined with immunolocalization techniques, we mapped the membrane topology of PINs and further cross-validated our results using available topology modeling software. We delineated the topology of PIN1 with two transmembrane (TM) bundles of five α-helices linked by a large intracellular loop and a C-terminus positioned outside the cytoplasm. Using constraints derived from our experimental data, we also provide an updated position of helical regions generating a verisimilitude model of PIN1. Since the canonical long PINs show a high degree of conservation in TM domains and auxin transport capacity has been demonstrated for Arabidopsis representatives of this group, this empirically enhanced topological model of PIN1 will be an important starting point for further studies on PIN structure–function relationships. In addition, we have established protocols that can be used to probe the topology of other plasma membrane proteins in plants. © 2016 The Authors AU - Nodzyński, Tomasz AU - Vanneste, Steffen AU - Zwiewka, Marta AU - Pernisová, Markéta AU - Hejátko, Jan AU - Friml, Jirí ID - 1145 IS - 11 JF - Molecular Plant TI - Enquiry into the topology of plasma membrane localized PIN auxin transport components VL - 9 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Apical dominance is one of the fundamental developmental phenomena in plant biology, which determines the overall architecture of aerial plant parts. Here we show apex decapitation activated competition for dominance in adjacent upper and lower axillary buds. A two-nodal-bud pea (Pisum sativum L.) was used as a model system to monitor and assess auxin flow, auxin transport channels, and dormancy and initiation status of axillary buds. Auxin flow was manipulated by lateral stem wounds or chemically by auxin efflux inhibitors 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), 1-N-naphtylphtalamic acid (NPA), or protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) treatments, which served to interfere with axillary bud competition. Redirecting auxin flow to different points influenced which bud formed the outgrowing and dominant shoot. The obtained results proved that competition between upper and lower axillary buds as secondary auxin sources is based on the same auxin canalization principle that operates between the shoot apex and axillary bud. © The Author(s) 2016. AU - Balla, Jozef AU - Medved'Ová, Zuzana AU - Kalousek, Petr AU - Matiješčuková, Natálie AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Reinöhl, Vilém AU - Procházka, Stanislav ID - 1147 JF - Scientific Reports TI - Auxin flow mediated competition between axillary buds to restore apical dominance VL - 6 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Tissue patterning in multicellular organisms is the output of precise spatio–temporal regulation of gene expression coupled with changes in hormone dynamics. In plants, the hormone auxin regulates growth and development at every stage of a plant’s life cycle. Auxin signaling occurs through binding of the auxin molecule to a TIR1/AFB F-box ubiquitin ligase, allowing interaction with Aux/IAA transcriptional repressor proteins. These are subsequently ubiquitinated and degraded via the 26S proteasome, leading to derepression of auxin response factors (ARFs). How auxin is able to elicit such a diverse range of developmental responses through a single signaling module has not yet been resolved. Here we present an alternative auxin-sensing mechanism in which the ARF ARF3/ETTIN controls gene expression through interactions with process-specific transcription factors. This noncanonical hormonesensing mechanism exhibits strong preference for the naturally occurring auxin indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) and is important for coordinating growth and patterning in diverse developmental contexts such as gynoecium morphogenesis, lateral root emergence, ovule development, and primary branch formation. Disrupting this IAA-sensing ability induces morphological aberrations with consequences for plant fitness. Therefore, our findings introduce a novel transcription factor-based mechanism of hormone perception in plants. © 2016 Simonini et al. AU - Simonini, Sara AU - Deb, Joyita AU - Moubayidin, Laila AU - Stephenson, Pauline AU - Valluru, Manoj AU - Freire Rios, Alejandra AU - Sorefan, Karim AU - Weijers, Dolf AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Östergaard, Lars ID - 1151 IS - 20 JF - Genes and Development TI - A noncanonical auxin sensing mechanism is required for organ morphogenesis in arabidopsis VL - 30 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Differential cell growth enables flexible organ bending in the presence of environmental signals such as light or gravity. A prominent example of the developmental processes based on differential cell growth is the formation of the apical hook that protects the fragile shoot apical meristem when it breaks through the soil during germination. Here, we combined in silico and in vivo approaches to identify a minimal mechanism producing auxin gradient-guided differential growth during the establishment of the apical hook in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Computer simulation models based on experimental data demonstrate that asymmetric expression of the PIN-FORMED auxin efflux carrier at the concave (inner) versus convex (outer) side of the hook suffices to establish an auxin maximum in the epidermis at the concave side of the apical hook. Furthermore, we propose a mechanism that translates this maximum into differential growth, and thus curvature, of the apical hook. Through a combination of experimental and in silico computational approaches, we have identified the individual contributions of differential cell elongation and proliferation to defining the apical hook and reveal the role of auxin-ethylene crosstalk in balancing these two processes. © 2016 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved. AU - Žádníková, Petra AU - Wabnik, Krzysztof T AU - Abuzeineh, Anas AU - Gallemí, Marçal AU - Van Der Straeten, Dominique AU - Smith, Richard AU - Inze, Dirk AU - Friml, Jirí AU - Prusinkiewicz, Przemysław AU - Benková, Eva ID - 1153 IS - 10 JF - Plant Cell TI - A model of differential growth guided apical hook formation in plants VL - 28 ER - TY - JOUR AB - Plants adjust their growth according to gravity. Gravitropism involves gravity perception, signal transduction, and asymmetric growth response, with organ bending as a consequence [1]. Asymmetric growth results from the asymmetric distribution of the plant-specific signaling molecule auxin [2] that is generated by lateral transport, mediated in the hypocotyl predominantly by the auxin transporter PIN-FORMED3 (PIN3) [3–5]. Gravity stimulation polarizes PIN3 to the bottom sides of endodermal cells, correlating with increased auxin accumulation in adjacent tissues at the lower side of the stimulated organ, where auxin induces cell elongation and, hence, organ bending. A curvature response allows the hypocotyl to resume straight growth at a defined angle [6], implying that at some point auxin symmetry is restored to prevent overbending. Here, we present initial insights into cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to the termination of the tropic response. We identified an auxin feedback on PIN3 polarization as underlying mechanism that restores symmetry of the PIN3-dependent auxin flow. Thus, two mechanistically distinct PIN3 polarization events redirect auxin fluxes at different time points of the gravity response: first, gravity-mediated redirection of PIN3-mediated auxin flow toward the lower hypocotyl side, where auxin gradually accumulates and promotes growth, and later PIN3 polarization to the opposite cell side, depleting this auxin maximum to end the bending. Accordingly, genetic or pharmacological interference with the late PIN3 polarization prevents termination of the response and leads to hypocotyl overbending. This observation reveals a role of auxin feedback on PIN polarity in the termination of the tropic response. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd AU - Rakusová, Hana AU - Abbas, Mohamad AU - Han, Huibin AU - Song, Siyuan AU - Robert, Hélène AU - Friml, Jirí ID - 1212 IS - 22 JF - Current Biology TI - Termination of shoot gravitropic responses by auxin feedback on PIN3 polarity VL - 26 ER -