A role for the root cap in root branching revealed by the non-auxin probe naxillin.
The acquisition of water and nutrients by plant roots is a fundamental aspect of agriculture and strongly depends on root architecture. Root branching and expansion of the root system is achieved through the development of lateral roots and is to a large extent controlled by the plant hormone auxin. However, the pleiotropic effects of auxin or auxin-like molecules on root systems complicate the study of lateral root development. Here we describe a small-molecule screen in Arabidopsis thaliana that identified naxillin as what is to our knowledge the first non-auxin-like molecule that promotes root branching. By using naxillin as a chemical tool, we identified a new function for root cap-specific conversion of the auxin precursor indole-3-butyric acid into the active auxin indole-3-acetic acid and uncovered the involvement of the root cap in root branching. Delivery of an auxin precursor in peripheral tissues such as the root cap might represent an important mechanism shaping root architecture.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- RNA, Messenger
- Plant Roots
- Plant Proteins
- Indoleacetic Acids
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Arabidopsis
- 3404 Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry
- 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
- 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- 0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- RNA, Messenger
- Plant Roots
- Plant Proteins
- Indoleacetic Acids
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Arabidopsis
- 3404 Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry
- 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology
- 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
- 0304 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry