Auxin catabolism unplugged: Role of IAA oxidation in auxin homeostasis

Nitrate Starvation Induces Lateral Root Organogenesis in Triticum aestivum via Auxin Signaling

The lateral root (LR) is an essential component of the plant root system, performing important functions for nutrient and water uptake in plants and playing a pivotal role in cereal crop productivity. Nitrate (NO3-) is an essential nutrient for plants. In this study, wheat plants were grown in 1/2 strength Hoagland's solution containing 5 mM NO3- (check; CK), 0.1 mM NO3- (low NO3-; LN), or 0.1 mM NO3- plus 60 mg/L 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) (LNT). The results showed that LN increased the LR number significantly at 48 h after treatment compared with CK, while not increasing the root biomass, and LNT significantly decreased the LR number and root biomass. The transcriptomic analysis showed that LN induced the expression of genes related to root IAA synthesis and transport and cell wall remodeling, and it was suppressed in the LNT conditions. A physiological assay revealed that the LN conditions increased the activity of IAA biosynthesis-related enzymes, the concentrations of tryptophan and IAA, and the activity of cell wall remodeling enzymes in the roots, whereas the content of polysaccharides in the LRP cell wall was significantly decreased compared with the control. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic microscopy revealed that the content of cell wall polysaccharides decreased and the cell wall elasticity of LR primordia (LRP) increased under the LN conditions. The effects of LN on IAA synthesis and polar transport, cell wall remodeling, and LR development were abolished when TIBA was applied. Our findings indicate that NO3- starvation may improve auxin homeostasis and the biological properties of the LRP cell wall and thus promote LR initiation, while TIBA addition dampens the effects of LN on auxin signaling, gene expression, physiological processes, and the root architecture.

Structural insights into strigolactone catabolism by carboxylesterases reveal a conserved conformational regulation

Phytohormone levels are regulated through specialized enzymes, participating not only in their biosynthesis but also in post-signaling processes for signal inactivation and cue depletion. Arabidopsis thaliana (At) carboxylesterase 15 (CXE15) and carboxylesterase 20 (CXE20) have been shown to deplete strigolactones (SLs) that coordinate various growth and developmental processes and function as signaling molecules in the rhizosphere. Here, we elucidate the X-ray crystal structures of AtCXE15 (both apo and SL intermediate bound) and AtCXE20, revealing insights into the mechanisms of SL binding and catabolism. The N-terminal regions of CXE15 and CXE20 exhibit distinct secondary structures, with CXE15 characterized by an alpha helix and CXE20 by an alpha/beta fold. These structural differences play pivotal roles in regulating variable SL hydrolysis rates. Our findings, both in vitro and in planta, indicate that a transition of the N-terminal helix domain of CXE15 between open and closed forms facilitates robust SL hydrolysis. The results not only illuminate the distinctive process of phytohormone breakdown but also uncover a molecular architecture and mode of plasticity within a specific class of carboxylesterases.

Knockout of endoplasmic reticulum-localized molecular chaperone HSP90.7 impairs seedling development and cellular auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis endoplasmic reticulum-localized heat shock protein HSP90.7 modulates tissue differentiation and stress responses; however, complete knockout lines have not been previously reported. In this study, we identified and analyzed a mutant allele, hsp90.7-1, which was unable to accumulate the HSP90.7 full-length protein and showed seedling lethality. Microscopic analyses revealed its essential role in male and female fertility, trichomes and root hair development, proper chloroplast function, and apical meristem maintenance and differentiation. Comparative transcriptome and proteome analyses also revealed the role of the protein in a multitude of cellular processes. Particularly, the auxin-responsive pathway was specifically downregulated in the hsp90.7-1 mutant seedlings. We measured a much-reduced auxin content in both root and shoot tissues. Through comprehensive histological and molecular analyses, we confirmed PIN1 and PIN5 accumulations were dependent on the HSP90 function, and the TAA-YUCCA primary auxin biosynthesis pathway was also downregulated in the mutant seedlings. This study therefore not only fulfilled a gap in understanding the essential role of HSP90 paralogs in eukaryotes but also provided a mechanistic insight on the ER-localized chaperone in regulating plant growth and development via modulating cellular auxin homeostasis.

An auxin research odyssey: 1989-2023

The phytohormone auxin is at times called the master regulator of plant processes and has been shown to be a central player in embryo development, the establishment of the polar axis, early aspects of seedling growth, as well as growth and organ formation during later stages of plant development. The Plant Cell has been key, since the inception of the journal, to developing an understanding of auxin biology. Auxin-regulated plant growth control is accomplished by both changes in the levels of active hormones and the sensitivity of plant tissues to these concentration changes. In this historical review, we chart auxin research as it has progressed in key areas and highlight the role The Plant Cell played in these scientific developments. We focus on understanding auxin-responsive genes, transcription factors, reporter constructs, perception, and signal transduction processes. Auxin metabolism is discussed from the development of tryptophan auxotrophic mutants, the molecular biology of conjugate formation and hydrolysis, indole-3-butyric acid metabolism and transport, and key steps in indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. This progress leads to an expectation of a more comprehensive understanding of the systems biology of auxin and the spatial and temporal regulation of cellular growth and development.

Identification of Compounds That Impact Consumer Flavor Liking of American-European Hazelnut Hybrids Using Nontargeted LC/MS Analysis

American-European (Corylus americana × Corylus avellana) hazelnut hybrids are being developed for the Midwest-growing region of the United States. However, an inadequate understanding of the compounds that impact the consumer acceptance of hazelnuts limits breeding programs. Nontargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) chemical profiles of 12 roasted hybrid hazelnut samples and the corresponding consumer flavor liking scores were modeled by orthogonal partial least squares with good fit and predictive ability (R2Y > 0.9, Q2 > 0.9) to identify compounds that impact nut liking. The five most predictive compounds (1-5) were negatively correlated to flavor liking, selected as putative markers, purified by multidimensional preparative LC/MS, structurally elucidated (nuclear magnetic resonance, MS), quantified, and validated for sensory relevance. Compound 1 was identified as 1″-O-3'-b-glucofuranosyl-1'-O-1-b-glucofuranosyl-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethan-4-one. Compounds 2 and 4 were identified as rotamers of 2-(3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl) acetic acid 3-O-6'-galactopyranosyl-2″-(2″oxoindolin-3″yl) acetate, whereas compounds 3 and 5 were identified as rotamers of 1″-O-1'-b-glucofuranosyl-9-O-6'-b-glucopyranosyl-2″-(2″-oxoindolin-3″yl) acetate. Sensory evaluation determined that all compounds were characterized by bitterness and/or astringency. The sensory threshold values of compounds 1-5 were determined to be below the concentrations reported in 91, 83, 41, 25, and 41% of all 12 hybrid hazelnut samples, respectively, indicating they contributed to aversive flavor attributes.

Characterizing Root Morphological Responses to Exogenous Tryptophan in Soybean (Glycine max) Seedlings Using a Scanner-Based Rhizotron System

Tryptophan is a precursor of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which is the major auxin involved in the regulation of lateral root formation. In this study, we used a scanner-based rhizotron system to examine root growth and morphological responses of soybean (Glycine max, ‘Golden Harvest’) seedlings to exogenous tryptophan. Seeds were sown directly in the rhizotron filled with field soil. Tryptophan was applied at 1.9 and 3.8 mg plant−1 by soil drenching or foliar spray. Canopy and root projected area were monitored by analyzing canopy and rhizotron images using ImageJ software. Seedlings were sampled at the first trifoliate stage, 18 days after sowing (DAS), and root morphology was determined by analyzing washed root images using WinRHIZO software. According to contrast analysis, when all tryptophan treatments were pooled, tryptophan application increased canopy and root projected area by 13% to 14% compared with the control at 18 DAS. Tryptophan application also increased root dry matter accumulation by 26%, root:shoot ratio by 24%, and secondary root number by 13%. Tryptophan applied by soil drenching also increased root length and surface area of fine roots (<0.2 mm diameter) by 25% and 21%, respectively, whereas it slightly inhibited primary root elongation. The efficacy of tryptophan soil drenching in stimulating root formation became greater with increasing the application rate. These results suggest that exogenous tryptophan induces auxin-like activities in root development. Soil drenching of tryptophan appears to be an effective strategy in improving the establishment of soybean. Importantly, this strategy is easily implementable by commercial growers with no negative side effect.

Chemical genetic screening identifies nalacin as an inhibitor of GH3 amido synthetase for auxin conjugation

Auxin inactivation is critical for plant growth and development. To develop plant growth regulators functioning in auxin inactivation pathway, we performed a phenotype-based chemical screen in Arabidopsis and identified a chemical, nalacin, that partially mimicked the effects of auxin. Genetic, pharmacological, and biochemical approaches demonstrated that nalacin exerts its auxin-like activities by inhibiting indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) conjugation that is mediated by Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3) acyl acid amido synthetases. The crystal structure of Arabidopsis GH3.6 in complex with D4 (a derivative of nalacin) together with docking simulation analysis revealed the molecular basis of the inhibition of group II GH3 by nalacin. Sequence alignment analysis indicated broad bioactivities of nalacin and D4 as inhibitors of GH3s in vascular plants, which were confirmed, at least, in tomato and rice. In summary, our work identifies nalacin as a potent inhibitor of IAA conjugation mediated by group II GH3 that plays versatile roles in hormone-regulated plant development and has potential applications in both basic research and agriculture.

The role of auxins and auxin-producing bacteria in the tolerance and accumulation of cadmium by plants

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic heavy metals for plant physiology and development. This review discusses Cd effects on auxin biosynthesis and homeostasis, and the strategies for restoring plant growth based on exogenous auxin application. First, the two well-characterized auxin biosynthesis pathways in plants are described, as well as the effect of exogenous auxin application on plant growth. Then, review describes the impacts of Cd on the content, biosynthesis, conjugation, and oxidation of endogenous auxins, which are related to a decrease in root development, photosynthesis, and biomass production. Finally, compelling evidence of the beneficial effects of auxin-producing rhizobacteria in plants exposed to Cd is showed, focusing on photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and production of antioxidant compounds and osmolytes that counteract Cd toxicity, favoring plant growth and improve phytoremediation efficiency. Expanding our understanding of the positive effects of exogenous auxins application and the interactions between bacteria and plants growing in Cd-polluted environments will allow us to propose phytoremediation strategies for restoring environments contaminated with this metal.

Auxin biosynthesis maintains embryo identity and growth during BABY BOOM-induced somatic embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis is a type of plant cell totipotency where embryos develop from nonreproductive (vegetative) cells without fertilization. Somatic embryogenesis can be induced in vitro by auxins, and by ectopic expression of embryo-expressed transcription factors like the BABY BOOM (BBM) AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR domain protein. These different pathways are thought to converge to promote auxin response and biosynthesis, but the specific roles of the endogenous auxin pathway in somatic embryogenesis induction have not been well-characterized. Here we show that BBM transcriptionally regulates the YUCCA3 (YUC3) and YUC8 auxin biosynthesis genes during BBM-mediated somatic embryogenesis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seedlings. BBM induced local and ectopic YUC3 and YUC8 expression in seedlings, which coincided with increased DR5 auxin response and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis and with ectopic expression of the WOX2 embryo reporter. YUC-driven auxin biosynthesis was required for BBM-mediated somatic embryogenesis, as the number of embryogenic explants was reduced by ca. 50% in yuc3 yuc8 mutants and abolished after chemical inhibition of YUC enzyme activity. However, a detailed YUC inhibitor time-course study revealed that YUC-dependent IAA biosynthesis is not required for the re-initiation of totipotent cell identity in seedlings. Rather, YUC enzymes are required later in somatic embryo development for the maintenance of embryo identity and growth. This study resolves a long-standing question about the role of endogenous auxin biosynthesis in transcription factor-mediated somatic embryogenesis and also provides an experimental framework for understanding the role of endogenous auxin biosynthesis in other in planta and in vitro embryogenesis systems.

Sedentary Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Alter Auxin Homeostasis via Multiple Strategies

Sedentary endoparasites such as cyst and root-knot nematodes infect many important food crops and are major agro-economical pests worldwide. These plant-parasitic nematodes exploit endogenous molecular and physiological pathways in the roots of their host to establish unique feeding structures. These structures function as highly active transfer cells and metabolic sinks and are essential for the parasites' growth and reproduction. Plant hormones like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are a fundamental component in the formation of these feeding complexes. However, their underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms are still elusive despite recent advances in the field. This review presents a comprehensive overview of known functions of various auxins in plant-parasitic nematode infection sites, based on a systematic analysis of current literature. We evaluate multiple aspects involved in auxin homeostasis in plants, including anabolism, catabolism, transport, and signalling. From these analyses, a picture emerges that plant-parasitic nematodes have evolved multiple strategies to manipulate auxin homeostasis to establish a successful parasitic relationship with their host. Additionally, there appears to be a potential role for auxins other than IAA in plant-parasitic nematode infections that might be of interest to be further elucidated.

Response of hormone in rice seedlings to irrigation contaminated with cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins

Microcystins released by cyanobacteria affect crop growth and productivity, and even food safety. Plant hormones play a vital role in regulating growth, development and stress response in plants. Therefore, we studied the response of hormones including abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Zeatin (ZT) and gibberellin (GA₃) as well as hormone balances (IAA/ABA, ZT/ABA and GA/ABA) to cyanobacterial extract containing microcystins (1, 10, 100 and 1000 μg/L) during stress and recovery periods. Low concentration microcystins (1 μg/L) promoted growth of rice seedlings by increasing levels of IAA, ZT and GA₃ and maintaining hormone balances. In addition, the up-regulation of OsYUCCA1 increased IAA level in rice roots by promoting IAA biosynthesis. High concentrations microcystins (10, 100 or1000 μg/L) inhibited growth of rice seedlings by reducing levels of IAA, ZT and GA₃ and ratios of IAA/ABA, ZT/ABA and GA/ABA due to increased ABA level. The increase in ABA in rice seedlings induced by high concentrations MCs was resulted from up-regulation of OsNCED1, OsNCED3, OsNCED4 and OsZEP to enhance ABA biosynthesis, and was controlled by up-regulating expression levels of OsABAox1-3 for enhancing ABA catabolism as negative feedback. The highest concentration of MCs (1000 μg/L) caused irreversible damage to metabolisms of IAA and ABA, partly resulting in unrecoverable inhibition on rice growth. All results demonstrate that "low-concentration promotion and high-concentration inhibition" of microcystins was associated with changes in hormone levels and balances by affecting their metabolisms, and could be helpful for guiding agricultural irrigation with microcystin contaminated water.

Identification and Expression Analysis of Hormone Biosynthetic and Metabolism Genes in the 2OGD Family for Identifying Genes That May Be Involved in Tomato Fruit Ripening

Phytohormones play important roles in modulating tomato fruit development and ripening. The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily containing several subfamilies involved in hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. In this study, we aimed to identify hormone biosynthesis and metabolism-related to 2OGD proteins in tomato and explored their roles in fruit development and ripening. We identified nine 2OGD protein subfamilies involved in hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, including the gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic protein families GA20ox and GA3ox, GA degradation protein families C19-GA2ox and C20-GA2ox, ethylene biosynthetic protein family ACO, auxin degradation protein family DAO, jasmonate hydroxylation protein family JOX, salicylic acid degradation protein family DMR6, and strigolactone biosynthetic protein family LBO. These genes were differentially expressed in different tomato organs. The GA degradation gene SlGA2ox2, and the auxin degradation gene SlDAO1, showed significantly increased expression from the mature-green to the breaker stage during tomato fruit ripening, accompanied by decreased endogenous GA and auxin, indicating that SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1 were responsible for the reduced GA and auxin concentrations. Additionally, exogenous gibberellin 3 (GA₃) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatment of mature-green fruits delayed fruit ripening and increased the expression of SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1, respectively. Therefore, SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1 are implicated in the degradation of GAs and auxin during tomato fruit ripening.

Conifers exhibit a characteristic inactivation of auxin to maintain tissue homeostasis

Dynamic regulation of the concentration of the natural auxin (IAA) is essential to coordinate most of the physiological and developmental processes and responses to environmental changes. Oxidation of IAA is a major pathway to control auxin concentrations in angiosperms and, along with IAA conjugation, to respond to perturbation of IAA homeostasis. However, these regulatory mechanisms remain poorly investigated in conifers. To reduce this knowledge gap, we investigated the different contributions of the IAA inactivation pathways in conifers. MS-based quantification of IAA metabolites under steady-state conditions and after perturbation was investigated to evaluate IAA homeostasis in conifers. Putative Picea abies GH3 genes (PaGH3) were identified based on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis including angiosperms and basal land plants. Auxin-inducible PaGH3 genes were identified by expression analysis and their IAA-conjugating activity was explored. Compared to Arabidopsis, oxidative and conjugative pathways differentially contribute to reduce IAA concentrations in conifers. We demonstrated that the oxidation pathway plays a marginal role in controlling IAA homeostasis in spruce. By contrast, an excess of IAA rapidly activates GH3-mediated irreversible conjugation pathways. Taken together, these data indicate that a diversification of IAA inactivation mechanisms evolved specifically in conifers.

The dynamic response of the Arabidopsis root metabolome to auxin and ethylene is not predicted by changes in the transcriptome

While the effects of phytohormones on plant gene expression have been well characterized, comparatively little is known about how hormones influence metabolite profiles. This study examined the effects of elevated auxin and ethylene on the metabolome of Arabidopsis roots using a high-resolution 24 h time course, conducted in parallel to time-matched transcriptomic analyses. Mass spectrometry using orthogonal UPLC separation strategies (reversed phase and HILIC) in both positive and negative ionization modes was used to maximize identification of metabolites with altered levels. The findings show that the root metabolome responds rapidly to hormone stimulus and that compounds belonging to the same class of metabolites exhibit similar changes. The responses were dominated by changes in phenylpropanoid, glucosinolate, and fatty acid metabolism, although the nature and timing of the response was unique for each hormone. These alterations in the metabolome were not directly predicted by the corresponding transcriptome data, suggesting that post-transcriptional events such as changes in enzyme activity and/or transport processes drove the observed changes in the metabolome. These findings underscore the need to better understand the biochemical mechanisms underlying the temporal reconfiguration of plant metabolism, especially in relation to the hormone-metabolome interface and its subsequent physiological and morphological effects.

The Contribution of Plant Dioxygenases to Hypoxia Signaling

Dioxygenases catalyze the incorporation of one or two oxygen atoms into target organic substrates. Besides their metabolic role, these enzymes are involved in plant signaling pathways as this reaction is in several instances required for hormone metabolism, to control proteostasis and regulate chromatin accessibility. For these reasons, alteration of dioxygenase expression or activity can affect plant growth, development, and adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. Moreover, the requirement of co-substrates and co-factors, such as oxygen, 2-oxoglutarate, and iron (Fe²⁺), invests dioxygenases with a potential role as cellular sensors for these molecules. For example, inhibition of cysteine deoxygenation under hypoxia elicits adaptive responses to cope with oxygen shortage. However, biochemical and molecular evidence regarding the role of other dioxygenases under low oxygen stresses is still limited, and thus further investigation is needed to identify additional sensing roles for oxygen or other co-substrates and co-factors. Here, we summarize the main signaling roles of dioxygenases in plants and discuss how they control plant growth, development and metabolism, with a focus on the adaptive responses to low oxygen conditions.

Hormopriming to Mitigate Abiotic Stress Effects: A Case Study of N 9-Substituted Cytokinin Derivatives With a Fluorinated Carbohydrate Moiety

Drought and salinity reduce seed germination, seedling emergence, and early seedling establishment, affect plant metabolism, and hence, reduce crop yield. Development of technologies that can increase plant tolerance of these challenging growth conditions is a major current interest among plant scientists and breeders. Seed priming has become established as one of the practical approaches that can alleviate the negative impact of many environmental stresses and improve the germination and overall performance of crops. Hormopriming using different plant growth regulators has been widely demonstrated as effective, but information about using cytokinins (CKs) as priming agents is limited to only a few studies using kinetin or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Moreover, the mode of action of these compounds in improving seed and plant fitness through priming has not yet been studied. For many years, BAP has been one of the CKs most commonly applied exogenously to plants to delay senescence and reduce the impact of stress. However, rapid endogenous N ⁹-glucosylation of BAP can result in negative effects. This can be suppressed by hydroxylation of the benzyl ring or by appropriate N ⁹ purine substitution. Replacement of the 2' or 3' hydroxyl groups of a nucleoside with a fluorine atom has shown promising results in drug research and biochemistry as a means of enhancing biological activity and increasing chemical or metabolic stability. Here, we show that the application of this chemical modification in four new N ⁹-substituted CK derivatives with a fluorinated carbohydrate moiety improved the antisenescence properties of CKs. Besides, detailed phenotypical analysis of the growth and development of Arabidopsis plants primed with the new CK analogs over a broad concentration range and under various environmental conditions revealed that they improve growth regulation and antistress activity. Seed priming with, for example, 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-9-(β)-D-arabinofuranosylpurine promoted plant growth under control conditions and alleviated the negative effects of the salt and osmotic stress. The mode of action of this hormopriming and its effect on plant metabolism were further analyzed through quantification of the endogenous levels of phytohormones such as CKs, auxins and abscisic acid, and the results are discussed.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of ZmYUC1 mutant reveals the role of auxin during early endosperm formation in maize

Kernel size in cereal is an important agronomic trait controlled by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The endosperm occupies most of the kernel area; for this reason, the endosperm cells dimension, number and metabolic content strongly influence kernel properties. This paper presents the transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the maize defective endosperm 18 (de18) mutant, where auxin accumulation in the endosperm is impaired. This mutation, involving the ZmYuc1 gene, leads to a reduced kernel size compared to the wild-type line B37. Our results mainly indicate that IAA concentration controls sugar and protein metabolism during kernel differentiation and it is necessary for BETL formation. Furthermore, a fine tuning of different auxin conjugates is reported as the main mechanism to counteract the auxin deficit. Some candidates as master regulators of endosperm transcriptional regulation mediated by auxin are found between MYB and MADS-box gene families. A link between auxin and storage protein accumulation is highlighted, suggesting that IAA directly or indirectly, through CK or ABA, regulates the transcription of zein coding genes. This study represents a move forward with respect to the current knowledge about the role of auxin during maize endosperm differentiation thus revealing the genes that are modulated by auxin and that control agronomic traits as kernel size and metabolic composition.

Hormone balance in a climacteric plum fruit and its non-climacteric bud mutant during ripening

Hormone balance plays a crucial role in the control of fruit ripening. We characterized and compared hormone balance in two Japanese plum cultivars (Prunus salicina Lindl.), namely Santa Rosa, a climacteric type, and Sweet Miriam, its non-climacteric bud-sport mutant. We assessed hormonal changes in gene expression associated with hormone biosynthesis, perception and signaling during ripening on-the tree and throughout postharvest storage and in response to ethylene treatments. Non-climacteric fruit displayed lower ethylene levels than climacteric fruit at all stages and lower auxin levels during the initiation of ripening on-the-tree and during most of post-harvest storage. Moreover, 1-MCP-induced ethylene decrease also resulted in low auxin contents in Santa Rosa, supporting the role of auxin in climacteric fruit ripening. The differences in auxin contents between Santa Rosa and Sweet Miriam fruit could be the consequence of different routed auxin biosynthesis pathways as indicated by the significant negative correlations between clusters of auxin metabolism-associated genes. Ethylene induced increased ABA levels throughout postharvest storage in both ripening types. Overall, ripening of Santa Rosa and Sweet Miriam fruit are characterized by distinct hormone accumulation pathways and interactions.

A bacterial assay for rapid screening of IAA catabolic enzymes

BACKGROUND

Plants rely on concentration gradients of the native auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), to modulate plant growth and development. Both metabolic and transport processes participate in the dynamic regulation of IAA homeostasis. Free IAA levels can be reduced by inactivation mechanisms, such as conjugation and degradation. IAA can be conjugated via ester linkage to glucose, or via amide linkage to amino acids, and degraded via oxidation. Members of the UDP glucosyl transferase (UGT) family catalyze the conversion of IAA to indole-3-acetyl-1-glucosyl ester (IAGlc); by contrast, IAA is irreversibly converted to indole-3-acetyl-l-aspartic acid (IAAsp) and indole-3-acetyl glutamic acid (IAGlu) by Group II of the GRETCHEN HAGEN3 (GH3) family of acyl amido synthetases. Dioxygenase for auxin oxidation (DAO) irreversibly oxidizes IAA to oxindole-3-acetic acid (oxIAA) and, in turn, oxIAA can be further glucosylated to oxindole-3-acetyl-1-glucosyl ester (oxIAGlc) by UGTs. These metabolic pathways have been identified based on mutant analyses, in vitro activity measurements, and in planta feeding assays. In vitro assays for studying protein activity are based on producing Arabidopsis enzymes in a recombinant form in bacteria or yeast followed by recombinant protein purification. However, the need to extract and purify the recombinant proteins represents a major obstacle when performing in vitro assays.

RESULTS

In this work we report a rapid, reproducible and cheap method to screen the enzymatic activity of recombinant proteins that are known to inactivate IAA. The enzymatic reactions are carried out directly in bacteria that produce the recombinant protein. The enzymatic products can be measured by direct injection of a small supernatant fraction from the bacterial culture on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Experimental procedures were optimized for testing the activity of different classes of IAA-modifying enzymes without the need to purify recombinant protein.

CONCLUSIONS

This new method represents an alternative to existing in vitro assays. It can be applied to the analysis of IAA metabolites that are produced upon supplementation of substrate to engineered bacterial cultures and can be used for a rapid screening of orthologous candidate genes from non-model species.

Auxins and Cytokinins-The Role of Subcellular Organization on Homeostasis

Plant hormones are master regulators of plant growth and development. Better knowledge of their spatial signaling and homeostasis (transport and metabolism) on the lowest structural levels (cellular and subcellular) is therefore crucial to a better understanding of developmental processes in plants. Recent progress in phytohormone analysis at the cellular and subcellular levels has greatly improved the effectiveness of isolation protocols and the sensitivity of analytical methods. This review is mainly focused on homeostasis of two plant hormone groups, auxins and cytokinins. It will summarize and discuss their tissue- and cell-type specific distributions at the cellular and subcellular levels.

Control of Endogenous Auxin Levels in Plant Root Development

In this review, we summarize the different biosynthesis-related pathways that contribute to the regulation of endogenous auxin in plants. We demonstrate that all known genes involved in auxin biosynthesis also have a role in root formation, from the initiation of a root meristem during embryogenesis to the generation of a functional root system with a primary root, secondary lateral root branches and adventitious roots. Furthermore, the versatile adaptation of root development in response to environmental challenges is mediated by both local and distant control of auxin biosynthesis. In conclusion, auxin homeostasis mediated by spatial and temporal regulation of auxin biosynthesis plays a central role in determining root architecture.

Auxin homeostasis: the DAO of catabolism

Nearly all programmed and plastic plant growth responses are at least partially regulated by auxins, such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Although vectorial, long distance auxin transport is essential to its regulatory function, all auxin responses are ultimately localized in individual target cells. As a consequence, cellular auxin concentrations are tightly regulated via coordinated biosynthesis, transport, conjugation, and oxidation. The primary auxin oxidative product across species is 2-oxindole-3-acetic acid (oxIAA), followed by glucose and amino acid conjugation to oxIAA. Recently, the enzymes catalyzing the oxidative reaction were characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. DIOXYGENASE OF AUXIN OXIDATION (DAO) comprises a small subfamily of the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II) [2-OG Fe(II)] dependent dioxygenase superfamily. Biochemical and genetic studies have revealed critical physiological functions of DAO during plant growth and development. Thus far, DAO has been identified in three species by homology. Here, we review historical and recent studies and discuss future perspectives regarding DAO and IAA oxidation.

The auxins, IAA and PAA, are synthesized by similar steps catalyzed by different enzymes

One of the fundamental plant growth substances, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), belongs to a class of phytohormones known as auxins. The main IAA biosynthesis pathway involves the conversion of tryptophan to indole-3-pyruvic acid, which is in turn converted to IAA. The two enzymes responsible for these conversions, members of the TAA1 and YUCCA gene families, respectively, have recently been implicated in the synthesis of another auxin, phenylacetic acid (PAA). While there is some evidence to support this theory, there are also some concerns. Here we address the question: to what extent does the TAA1/YUCCA system contribute to the biosynthesis of PAA? In addition, we highlight the importance of measuring auxin metabolites and conjugates in addressing such questions.