title: Root gravitropism requires lateral root cap and epidermal cells for transport and response to a mobile auxin signal.
abstract: Re-orientation of Arabidopsis seedlings induces a rapid, asymmetric release of the growth regulator auxin from gravity-sensing columella cells at the root apex. The resulting lateral auxin gradient is hypothesized to drive differential cell expansion in elongation-zone tissues. We mapped those root tissues that function to transport or respond to auxin during a gravitropic response. Targeted expression of the auxin influx facilitator AUX1 demonstrated that root gravitropism requires auxin to be transported via the lateral root cap to all elongating epidermal cells. A three-dimensional model of the root elongation zone predicted that AUX1 causes the majority of auxin to accumulate in the epidermis. Selectively disrupting the auxin responsiveness of expanding epidermal cells by expressing a mutant form of the AUX/IAA17 protein, axr3-1, abolished root gravitropism. We conclude that gravitropic curvature in Arabidopsis roots is primarily driven by the differential expansion of epidermal cells in response to an influx-carrier-dependent auxin gradient.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: Ranjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swarup
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: H M Ottoline
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Leyser
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haseloff
authors.forename: Gerrit T S
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Beemster
authors.forename: Rishikesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhalerao
authors.forename: Malcolm J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018522:Gravitropism; D008954:Models, Biological; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D021381:Protein Transport; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C100794:AUX1 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins