Auxin influx importers modulate serration along the leaf margin. (27th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kasprzewska, Ania; Carter, Ross; Swarup, Ranjan; Bennett, Malcolm; Monk, Nick; Hobbs, Jamie K.; Fleming, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Plant journal. Volume 83:Number 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 705
• Page End: 718
• Publication Date: 2015-07-27
• Subjects: Plant molecular biology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12921
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7412

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tpj12921-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Leaf shape in Arabidopsis is modulated by patterning events in the margin that utilize a PIN‐based auxin exporter/CUC2 transcription factor system to define regions of promotion and retardation of growth, leading to morphogenesis. In addition to auxin exporters, leaves also express auxin importers, notably members of the <italic>AUX1</italic>/<italic>LAX</italic> family. In contrast to their established roles in embryogenesis, lateral root and leaf initiation, the function of these transporters in leaf development is poorly understood. We report that three of these genes (<italic>AUX1</italic>, <italic> LAX1</italic> and <italic>LAX2</italic>) show specific and dynamic patterns of expression during early leaf development in Arabidopsis, and that loss of expression of all three genes is required for observation of a phenotype in which morphogenesis (serration) is decreased. We used these expression patterns and mutant phenotypes to develop a margin‐patterning model that incorporates an <italic>AUX1</italic>/<italic>LAX1</italic>/<italic>LAX2</italic> auxin import module that influences the extent of leaf serration. Testing of this model by margin‐localized expression of <italic>axr3–1</italic> (<italic>AXR17</italic>) provides further insight into the role of auxin in leaf morphogenesis.</p> </abstract>