IQD proteins integrate auxin and calcium signaling to regulate microtubule dynamics during Arabidopsis development

Abstract

Geometry and growth and division direction of individual cells are major contributors to plant organ shape and these processes are dependent on dynamics of microtubules (MT). Different MT structures, like the cortical microtubules, preprophase band and mitotic spindle, are characterized by diverse architectural dynamics (Hashimoto, 2015). While several MT binding proteins have been identified that have various effects on MT stability and architecture, they do not discriminate between the different MT structures. It is therefore likely that specific MT binding proteins exist that differentiate between MT structures in order to allow for the differences in architectural dynamics. Although evidence for the effect of specific cues, such as light and auxin, on MT dynamics has been shown in recent years (Lindeboom et al., 2013; Chen et al., 2014), it remains unknown how such cues are integrated and lead to specific effects. Here we provide evidence for how auxin and calcium signaling can be integrated to modulate MT dynamics, by means of IQD proteins. We show that the Arabidopsis IQD15-18 subclade of this family is regulated by auxin signaling, can bind calmodulins in a calcium-dependent manner and are evolutionarily conserved. Furthermore, AtIQD15-18 directly bind SPIRAL2 protein in vitro and in vivo and modulate its function, likely in a calmodulin-dependent way, thereby providing a missing link between two important regulatory pathways of MT dynamics.\n\nOne sentence summaryIQD proteins integrate auxin and calcium signaling, two major signaling pathways, to control the cytoskeleton dynamics and cell shape of Arabidopsis.