Comparative mutant analyses reveal a novel mechanism of ARF regulation in land plants

A major challenge in plant biology is to understand how the plant hormone auxin regulates diverse transcriptional responses throughout development, in different environments, and in different species. The answer may lie in the specific complement of auxin signaling components in each cell. The balance between activators (class-A AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORS) and repressors (class-B ARFs) is particularly important. It is unclear how this balance is achieved. Through comparative analysis of novel, dominant mutants in maize and the moss Physcomitrium patens , we have discovered a ∼500-million-year-old mechanism of class-B ARF protein level regulation, important in determining cell fate decisions across land plants. Thus, our results add a key piece to the puzzle of how auxin regulates plant development.

Clade-D auxin response factors regulate auxin signaling and development in the moss Physcomitrium patens

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a family of transcription factors that are responsible for regulating gene expression in response to changes in auxin level. The analysis of ARF sequence and activity indicates that there are 2 major groups: activators and repressors. One clade of ARFs, clade-D, is sister to clade-A activating ARFs, but are unique in that they lack a DNA-binding domain. Clade-D ARFs are present in lycophytes and bryophytes but absent in other plant lineages. The transcriptional activity of clade-D ARFs, as well as how they regulate gene expression, is not well understood. Here, we report that clade-D ARFs are transcriptional activators in the model bryophyte Physcomitrium patens and have a major role in the development of this species. Δarfddub protonemata exhibit a delay in filament branching, as well as a delay in the chloronema to caulonema transition. Additionally, leafy gametophore development in Δarfddub lines lags behind wild type. We present evidence that ARFd1 interacts with activating ARFs via their PB1 domains, but not with repressing ARFs. Based on these results, we propose a model in which clade-D ARFs enhance gene expression by interacting with DNA bound clade-A ARFs. Further, we show that ARFd1 must form oligomers for full activity.

Genetic analysis of the Arabidopsis TIR1/AFB auxin receptors reveals both overlapping and specialized functions

The TIR1/AFB auxin co-receptors mediate diverse responses to the plant hormone auxin. The Arabidopsis genome encodes six TIR1/AFB proteins representing three of the four clades that were established prior to angiosperm radiation. To determine the role of these proteins in plant development we performed an extensive genetic analysis involving the generation and characterization of all possible multiply-mutant lines. We find that loss of all six TIR1/AFB proteins results in early embryo defects and eventually seed abortion, and yet a single wild-type allele of TIR1 or AFB2 is sufficient to support growth throughout development. Our analysis reveals extensive functional overlap between even the most distantly related TIR1/AFB genes except for AFB1. Surprisingly, AFB1 has a specialized function in rapid auxin-dependent inhibition of root growth and early phase of root gravitropism. This activity may be related to a difference in subcellular localization compared to the other members of the family.