Oligomerization of SCFTIR1 Is Essential for Aux/IAA Degradation and Auxin Signaling in Arabidopsis

PLoS Genet. 2016 Sep 12;12(9):e1006301. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006301. eCollection 2016 Sep.

Abstract

The phytohormone auxin is a key regulator of plant growth and development. Molecular studies in Arabidopsis have shown that auxin perception and signaling is mediated via TIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA co-receptors that assemble as part of the SCFTIR1/AFB E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex and direct the auxin-regulated degradation of Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors. Despite the importance of auxin signaling, little is known about the functional regulation of the TIR1/AFB receptor family. Here we show that TIR1 can oligomerize in planta via a set of spatially clustered amino acid residues. While none of the residues identified reside in the interaction interface of the TIR1-Aux/IAA degron, they nonetheless regulate the binding of TIR1 to Aux/IAA substrate proteins and their subsequent degradation in vivo as an essential aspect of auxin signaling. We propose oligomerization of TIR1 as a novel regulatory mechanism in the regulation of auxin-mediated plant patterning and development.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics*
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism*
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • TIR1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • indole-3-acetic acid synthase