Tryptophan-independent auxin biosynthesis contributes to early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Apr 14;112(15):4821-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1503998112. Epub 2015 Mar 23.

Abstract

The phytohormone auxin regulates nearly all aspects of plant growth and development. Tremendous achievements have been made in elucidating the tryptophan (Trp)-dependent auxin biosynthetic pathway; however, the genetic evidence, key components, and functions of the Trp-independent pathway remain elusive. Here we report that the Arabidopsis indole synthase mutant is defective in the long-anticipated Trp-independent auxin biosynthetic pathway and that auxin synthesized through this spatially and temporally regulated pathway contributes significantly to the establishment of the apical-basal axis, which profoundly affects the early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis. These discoveries pave an avenue for elucidating the Trp-independent auxin biosynthetic pathway and its functions in regulating plant growth and development.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; IAA biosynthesis; embryogenesis; phytohormone; tryptophan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / embryology*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Ovule / genetics
  • Ovule / metabolism
  • Plant Components, Aerial / genetics
  • Plant Components, Aerial / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Seedlings / genetics
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seeds / embryology*
  • Seeds / genetics
  • Tryptophan / metabolism
  • Tryptophan Synthase / genetics
  • Tryptophan Synthase / metabolism

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • indole-3-acetic acid synthase
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • indoleacetic acid
  • Tryptophan
  • Tryptophan Synthase