ROOT ULTRAVIOLET B-SENSITIVE1/weak auxin response3 is essential for polar auxin transport in Arabidopsis

Plant Physiol. 2013 Jun;162(2):965-76. doi: 10.1104/pp.113.217018. Epub 2013 Apr 11.

Abstract

The phytohormone auxin regulates virtually every aspect of plant development. To identify new genes involved in auxin activity, a genetic screen was performed for Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants with altered expression of the auxin-responsive reporter DR5rev:GFP. One of the mutants recovered in the screen, designated as weak auxin response3 (wxr3), exhibits much lower DR5rev:GFP expression when treated with the synthetic auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and displays severe defects in root development. The wxr3 mutant decreases polar auxin transport and results in a disruption of the asymmetric auxin distribution. The levels of the auxin transporters AUXIN1 and PIN-FORMED are dramatically reduced in the wxr3 root tip. Molecular analyses demonstrate that WXR3 is ROOT ULTRAVIOLET B-SENSITIVE1 (RUS1), a member of the conserved Domain of Unknown Function647 protein family found in diverse eukaryotic organisms. Our data suggest that RUS1/WXR3 plays an essential role in the regulation of polar auxin transport by maintaining the proper level of auxin transporters on the plasma membrane.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / pharmacology
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport / genetics
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Meristem / genetics
  • Meristem / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • PIN1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • PIN2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RUS1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • TIR1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid