The Systems Biology of Auxin in Developing Embryos. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mironova, Victoria; Teale, William; Shahriari, Mojgan; Dawson, Jonathan; Palme, Klaus
• Is Part Of: Trends in plant science. Volume 22:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: ARF -- Aux/IAA -- mathematical model -- embryo patterning; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; Botany; Periodicals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.11.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-1385

Abstract

Abstract : Systems biology orientates signaling pathways in their biological context. This aim invariably requires models that ignore extraneous factors and focus on the most crucial pathways of any given process. The developing embryo encapsulates many important processes in plant development; understanding their interaction will be key to designing crops able to maximize yield in an ever-more challenging world. Here, we briefly summarize the role of auxin during embryo development. We highlight recent advances in our understanding of auxin signaling and discuss implications for a systems understanding of development. Trends: Nuclear auxin signaling drives the early stages of embryo development. Recent work has focused on how bioactive auxin accumulates at specific places and at specific times, and on defining exactly which processes it controls. Two areas of research related to this work have seen significant recent advances: (i) resolving the structures of nuclear auxin signaling proteins; and (ii) modeling interactions among them. A fusion of these two areas promises a rapid acceleration in our understanding of how auxin functions. This review highlights some directions in which this work may proceed. The next generation of models will frame regulatory networks in the context of growing tissues. The application of such models has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of how the embryo develops and is provisioned.