Alignment between PIN1 polarity and microtubule orientation in the shoot apical meristem reveals a tight coupling between morphogenesis and auxin transport.
Morphogenesis during multicellular development is regulated by intercellular signaling molecules as well as by the mechanical properties of individual cells. In particular, normal patterns of organogenesis in plants require coordination between growth direction and growth magnitude. How this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin patterning and cellular growth are linked through a correlated pattern of auxin efflux carrier localization and cortical microtubule orientation. Our experiments reveal that both PIN1 localization and microtubule array orientation are likely to respond to a shared upstream regulator that appears to be biomechanical in nature. Lastly, through mathematical modeling we show that such a biophysical coupling could mediate the feedback loop between auxin and its transport that underlies plant phyllotaxis.
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America.
Marcus G
MG
Heisler
Olivier
O
Hamant
Pawel
P
Krupinski
Magalie
M
Uyttewaal
Carolyn
C
Ohno
Henrik
H
Jönsson
Jan
J
Traas
Elliot M
EM
Meyerowitz
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001692:Biological Transport; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018519:Meristem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009024:Morphogenesis; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D001549:Benzamides; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C116363:PIN1 protein, Arabidopsis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013424:Sulfanilamides; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; C012465:oryzalin; C057467:isoxaben