Auxin in action: signalling, transport and the control of plant growth and development

Hormones have been at the centre of plant physiology research for more than a century. Research into plant hormones (phytohormones) has at times been considered as a rather vague subject, but the systematic application of genetic and molecular techniques has led to key insights that have revitalized the field. In this review, we will focus on the plant hormone auxin and its action. We will highlight recent mutagenesis and molecular studies, which have delineated the pathways of auxin transport, perception and signal transduction, and which together define the roles of auxin in controlling growth and patterning.     

植物荫蔽胁迫的激素信号响应

植物的生长发育与光信号密切相关, 外界光强、光质的变化会改变植物的生长发育状态。在自然或人工生态系统中, 植株个体的光环境往往会被其周围植物所影响, 导致荫蔽胁迫, 其主要表现为光合有效辐射以及红光与远红光比值(R:FR)降低。荫蔽胁迫对植物生长发育的多个时期均有影响, 如抑制种子萌发、促进幼苗下胚轴伸长及促进植物花期提前等, 这对农业生产不利, 会导致作物产量以及品质的降低。植物激素是调控植物生长发育的关键内源因子。大量研究表明, 生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)及油菜素甾醇(BR)等植物激素均参与介导植物的荫蔽胁迫响应。当植物处于荫蔽胁迫时, 光信号的改变会影响植物激素的合成及信号转导。不同植物激素对荫蔽胁迫的响应各不相同, 但其信号通路之间却存在互作关系, 从而形成复杂的网络状调控路径。该文总结了几种主要植物激素(生长素、赤霉素、油菜素甾醇及乙烯)响应荫蔽胁迫的机理, 重点论述了荫蔽胁迫对植物激素合成及信号通路的影响, 以及植物激素调控荫蔽胁迫下植物生长的分子机理, 并对未来潜在的研究热点进行了分析。     

油菜素甾醇类与生长素的相互作用

油菜素甾醇类(brassinosteroid,BR)和生长素是两类重要的植物激素,二者在许多生理功能上存在相关性。近年来的研究表明,BR与生长素能协同调节基因表达,二者在代谢、运输和信号转导途径等不同层次上存在相互作用,并且这两种信号与其他信号转导途径,如激素信号转导途径和光信号转导途径之间也存在信号对话。现对BR与生长素之间这种复杂的相互作用进行评述。     

The role of phytohormones in cotton fiber development

Since 1974, when Beasley and Ting discovered that fertilized ovules of cotton can be cultured in media supplemented with GA along with auxin, the effect of all types of phytohormones on fiber development has been widely studied. Many phytohormones, including GA, IAA, brassinosteroid (Br), ABA, ethylene (Et), and cytokinins (Ck), all have been demonstrated to play important roles during cotton fiber development. In recent years, the rapid development of genomic analysis and the accumulation of high-quality cotton ESTs allowed us to probe phytohormonal gene expression during fiber development. Many phytohormonal genes, including GA-, IAA-, ABA-, Br-, Et-, and Ck-related genes, participating in phytohormone biosynthesis pathways and signal transduction pathway accumulated in the process of cotton fiber development.     

A molecular basis for auxin action.

The plant hormone auxin is central in the regulation of growth and development, however, the molecular basis for its action has remained enigmatic. In the absence of a molecular model, the wide range of responses elicited by auxin have been difficult to explain. Recent advances using molecular genetic approaches in Arabidopsis have led to the isolation of a number of key genes involved in auxin action. Of particular importance are genes involved in channelling polar auxin transport through the plant. In addition a model for auxin signal transduction, centred on regulated protein degradation, has been developed.     

Moss systems biology en route: phytohormones in Physcomitrella development

The moss Physcomitrella patens has become a powerful model system in modern plant biology. Highly standardized cell culture techniques, as well as the necessary tools for computational biology, functional genomics and proteomics have been established. Large EST collections are available and the complete moss genome will be released soon. A simple body plan and the small number of different cell types in Physcomitrella facilitate the study of developmental processes. In the filamentous juvenile moss tissue, developmental decisions rely on the differentiation of single cells. Developmental steps are controlled by distinct phytohormones and integration of environmental signals. Especially the phytohormones auxin, cytokinin, and abscisic acid have distinct effects on early moss development. In this article, we review current knowledge about phytohormone influences on early moss development in an attempt to fully unravel the complex regulatory signal transduction networks underlying the developmental decisions of single plant cells in a holistic systems biology approach.     

植物的环境信号分子茉莉酸及其生物学功能

茉莉酸信号分子参与植物生长发育众多生理过程的调控,尤其是作为环境信号分子能有效地介导植物对生物及非生物胁迫的防御反应。迄今已知具有信号分子生理功能的至少包括茉莉酸(jasmonic acid,JA)以及茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,Me JA)和茉莉酸-异亮氨酸复合物(jasmonoyl-isoleucine,JA-Ile)等茉莉酸衍生物,统称为茉莉酸类化合物(jasmonates,JAs)。从环境信号分子角度介绍了茉莉酸信号的启动(环境信号感知与转导、茉莉酸类化合物合成)、传递(局部传递、维管束传输、空气传播)和生物学功能(茉莉酸信号受体、调控的转录因子、参与的生物学过程)。     

Comparison of phytohormone signaling mechanisms

Plant hormones are crucial signaling molecules that coordinate all aspects of plant growth, development and defense. A great deal of attention has been attracted from biologists to study the molecular mechanisms for perception and signal transduction of plant hormones during the last two decades. Tremendous progress has been made in identifying receptors and key signaling components of plant hormones. The holistic picture of hormone signaling pathways is extremely complicated, this review will give a general overview of perception and signal transduction mechanisms of auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroid, and jasmonate.     

植物重力反应的分子调控机制

重力是调节植物生长发育和形态建成的重要环境因子。植物感受到重力刺激后可以通过重力反应来协调自身各个器官的生长方向与重力方向之间的最适角度。植物重力反应过程分为重力信号的感受、重力信号的转导、生长素不对称分布的形成和重力反应器官的弯曲生长4个阶段。近年来,随着大量重力反应缺陷突变体的鉴定及其控制基因的功能解析,重力信号的感受和生长素不对称分布的分子机制等方面的研究取得了重要进展。作为植物适应环境变化的重要手段之一,重力反应还可以通过调节水稻(Oryza sativa L.)的分蘖角度实现对水稻株型和产量的调控。因此,研究植物的重力反应,不仅有助于解析植物生长发育的调控机制,对于作物株型的改良也具有重要的指导意义。然而,重力反应的分子机制及其调控网络仍不清楚。本文综述了近年来植物重力反应的调控机理及其调控水稻分蘖角度的作用机制,并对该领域未来的研究方向和热点进行了展望。     

From binding proteins to hormone receptors?

Phytohormones exert in responsive plant cells specific biochemical and physiological effects. It is a widely held view that phytohormones are first recognized by specific receptors which initiate the transduction of the hormonal signal. While hormone receptors are well studied in many eukaryotes ranging from yeast to man, we are lacking a detailed understanding of phytohormone receptors. Phytohormone binding proteins have been suspected to provide candidates for such receptors. In this review recent progress towards molecular analysis of such proteins and their genes will be summarized.     

Approaches to understanding auxin action

The effects of auxin on plant growth and development have been studied for decades, but the molecular mechanisms of auxin action remain unknown. These mechanisms have primarily been investigated by characterization of auxin physiology mutants and analysis of auxin-binding proteins and auxin-regulated genes. These efforts are now converging, since some mutants have recently been shown to have altered expression of specific auxin-binding proteins and auxin-regulated genes. The features of these proteins and genes are providing the first tantalizing clues to the organization of auxin signal transduction pathways.     

The emerging role of auxins as bacterial signal molecules: Potential biotechnological applications

Microorganisms are exposed in their natural niches to a wide diversity of signal molecules. Specific detection of these signals results in alterations in microbial metabolism and physiology. Auxins like indole-3-acetic acid are key phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development. Nonetheless, auxin biosynthesis is not restricted to plants but is ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. This wide phylogenetic distribution of auxins production, together with the diversity of regulated cellular processes, have made auxins key intra- and inter-kingdom signal molecules in life modulating, for example microbial physiology, metabolism and virulence. Despite their increasing importance as global signal molecules, the mechanisms by which auxins perform their regulatory functions in microorganisms are largely unknown. In this article, we outline recent research that has advanced our knowledge of the mechanisms of bacterial auxin perception. We also highlight the potential applications of this research in aspects such as antibiotic production, biosensor design, plant microbiome engineering and antivirulence therapies.     

植物激素检测技术研究进展

植物激素是植物体内合成的一系列痕量有机化合物,它们在植物的生长发育和环境应答过程中具有非常重要的作用,其超微定量及原位测定技术仍是制约植物激素研究的瓶颈问题之一。该文着重介绍了近年来茉莉酸及其甲酯、脱落酸、生长素、赤霉素和多肽激素等植物激素分析检测技术的最新研究进展,并对植物激素超微量、高灵敏检测技术研究中存在的问题和发展前景进行了简要的讨论。     

Recent Advances in the Study of Mechanisms of Action of Phytohormones

This review highlights recent advances in studies of mechanisms underlying the effects of five phytohormone groups: auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, and ethylene. The review summarizes data on receptors of all these phytohormones and the hormone signal transduction systems, which include second messengers, hormone-dependent trans-factors, and the genes controlled by these factors. The effects of phytohormones involve not only induction of novel protein synthesis via activation of their gene expression, but also degradation of repressor proteins through the ubiquitin system. The review contains examples of successful use of data on genes encoding enzymes of phytohormone synthesis and their receptors for development of transgenic plants with particular hormonal characteristics that provide practically valuable traits.     

中国科学家在生长素信号转导领域取得突破性研究进展

生长素(IAA)作为一种重要的植物激素, 参与调节植物生长发育的许多过程, 其作用机理长期以来备受人们的关注。最近, 中国科学家在生长素信号转导的分子机理研究领域取得了突破性进展。     

Dynamics of auxin-dependent Ca2+ and pH signaling in root growth revealed by integrating high-resolution imaging with automated computer vision-based analysis

Plants adapt to a changing environment by entraining their growth and development to prevailing conditions. Such 'plastic' development requires a highly dynamic integration of growth phenomena with signal perception and transduction systems, such as occurs during tropic growth. The plant hormone auxin has been shown to play a key role in regulating these directional growth responses of plant organs to environmental cues. However, we are still lacking a cellular and molecular understanding of how auxin-dependent signaling cascades link stimulus perception to the rapid modulation of growth patterns. Here, we report that in root gravitropism of Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin regulates root curvature and associated apoplastic, growth-related pH changes through a Ca2+-dependent signaling pathway. Using an approach that integrates confocal microscopy and automated computer vision-based image analysis, we demonstrate highly dynamic root surface pH patterns during vertical growth and after gravistimulation. These pH dynamics are shown to be dependent on auxin, and specifically on auxin transport mediated by the auxin influx carrier AUX1 in cells of the lateral root cap and root epidermis. Our results further indicate that these pH responses require auxin-dependent changes in cytosolic Ca2+ levels that operate independently of the TIR1 auxin perception system. These results demonstrate a methodology that can be used to visualize vectorial auxin responses in a manner that can be integrated with the rapid plant growth responses to environmental stimuli.     

Light participates in the auxin‐dependent regulation of plant growth

Light is the energy source for plant photosynthesis and influences plant growth and development. Through multiple photoreceptors, plant interprets light signals through various downstream phytohormones such as auxin. Recently, Chen et al. (2020) uncover a new layer of regulation in IPyA pathway of auxin biosynthesis by light. Here we highlight recent studies about how light controls plant growth through regulating auxin biosynthesis and signaling.