Search bioRxivSearch

Biology subjects

Kleine-Vehn, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Kleine-Vehn, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PIN7 auxin carrier is a terminator of radial root expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana

Directional growth of lateral roots is critical for radial expansion and soil coverage. Despite its importance, almost nothing is known about its molecular determinants. Initially, young lateral roots (LRs) grow away from the parental root maintaining the angle acquired shortly after emergence. A second downwards bending response to gravity terminates the so-called plateau phase and thereby limits the radial root expansion. Here we show that the exit from the plateau phase correlates with an increase in auxin signalling at the tip of LRs. Moreover, the increase in auxin levels induces the termination of the plateau phase, which requires PIN auxin efflux carriers. Our data suggests that the developmental increase of auxin triggers the preferential de-repression of PIN7 in gravity-sensing columella cells. The subsequent polarization of PIN7 heralds the bending towards gravity and, hence, the exit from the plateau phase. This developmental framework reveals the distinct roles of PIN auxin efflux carriers in controlling the radial growth of root systems.

plant biology

PILS6 is a temperature-sensitive regulator of nuclear auxin input and organ growth in Arabidopsis thaliana

Global warming is threatening plant productivity, because plant growth is highly sensitive to elevated temperatures. High temperature (HT) triggers the auxin biosynthesis-dependent growth in aerial tissues. On the other hand, the contribution of auxin to HT-induced root growth is currently under debate. Here we show that the putative intracellular auxin carrier PIN-LIKES 6 (PILS6) is a negative regulator of organ growth and that its abundance is highly sensitive to HT. PILS6 localises to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and limits the nuclear availability of auxin, consequently reducing the auxin signalling output. HT represses the transcription and protein abundance of PILS6 specifically in the root tip, which impacts on PILS6-dependent root organ growth rates. Accordingly, we hypothesize that PILS6 is part of a novel mechanism, linking HT to auxin responses in roots.

plant biology

LRX- and FER-dependent extracellular sensing coordinates vacuolar size for cytosol homeostasis

Cellular elongation requires the defined coordination of intra- and extracellular processes. The vacuole is the biggest plant organelle and its dimension has a role in limiting cell expansion (Lofke et al., 2015; Scheuring et al., 2016). We reveal that the increase in vacuolar occupancy enables cellular elongation with relatively little enlargement of the cytosole. It remains, however, completely unknown how the vacuolar size is coordinated with other growth-relevant processes. Intriguingly, we show that extracellular constraints impact on the intracellular expansion of the vacuole. The underlying cell wall sensing mechanism requires the interaction of the extracellular leucine-rich repeat extensin (LRX) with the receptor-like kinase Feronia (FER). Our data suggests that LRX links the plasma membrane localised FER with the cell wall, allowing this module to jointly sense and convey extracellular signals to the underlying cell. This mechanism coordinates cell wall acidification/loosening with the increase in vacuolar size, contributing cytosol homeostasis during plant cell expansion.

plant biology