2. Academic Validation
  3. A role for the root cap in root branching revealed by the non-auxin probe naxillin

A role for the root cap in root branching revealed by the non-auxin probe naxillin

  • Nat Chem Biol. 2012 Sep;8(9):798-805. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1044.
Bert De Rybel 1,  Dominique Audenaert,  Wei Xuan,  Paul Overvoorde,  Lucia C Strader,  Stefan Kepinski,  Rebecca Hoye,  Ronald Brisbois,  Boris Parizot,  Steffen Vanneste,  Xing Liu,  Alison Gilday,  Ian A Graham,  Long Nguyen,  Leentje Jansen,  Maria Fransiska Njo,  Dirk Inzé,  Bonnie Bartel,  Tom Beeckman
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Gent, Belgium.
PMID: 22885787 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1044
Abstract

The acquisition of water and nutrients by plant roots is a fundamental aspect of agriculture and strongly depends on root architecture. Root branching and expansion of the root system is achieved through the development of lateral roots and is to a large extent controlled by the plant hormone Auxin. However, the pleiotropic effects of Auxin or auxin-like molecules on root systems complicate the study of lateral root development. Here we describe a small-molecule screen in Arabidopsis thaliana that identified naxillin as what is to our knowledge the first non-auxin-like molecule that promotes root branching. By using naxillin as a chemical tool, we identified a new function for root cap-specific conversion of the Auxin precursor indole-3-butyric acid into the active Auxin indole-3-acetic acid and uncovered the involvement of the root cap in root branching. Delivery of an Auxin precursor in peripheral tissues such as the root cap might represent an important mechanism shaping root architecture.

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Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-18573
    Plant Growth Regulator