Auxin Input Pathway Disruptions Are Mitigated by Changes in Auxin Biosynthetic Gene Expression in Arabidopsis

    June 2014 in “ PLANT PHYSIOLOGY ”
    Gretchen M. Spiess, Amanda Hausman, Peng Yu, Jerry D. Cohen, Rebekah A. Rampey, Bethany K. Zolman
    TLDR Arabidopsis plants adjust gene expression to maintain balance when auxin pathways are disrupted.
    The study investigated how disruptions in auxin input pathways affected auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Researchers created mutants with altered pathways for converting IAA conjugates and indole-3-butyric acid to free IAA, resulting in phenotypes associated with low auxin levels, such as delayed germination and abnormal root and vein development. Despite reduced IAA levels in cotyledon tissue, the plants compensated by increasing auxin biosynthetic gene expression, particularly in the YUCCA/Tryptophan Aminotransferase of Arabidopsis1 pathway. This feedback mechanism helped maintain cellular homeostasis despite disruptions in auxin input pathways.
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