Research Progresses on Auxin Response Factors

Auxin response factors （ARFs）, a family of transcription factors, have been discovered recently. The ARFs bind specifically to the auxin response elements （AuxREs） within promoters of primary auxin responsive genes and function as activators or repressors. The ARFs contain three domains, namely a conserved Nterminal DNA-binding domain, a non-conserved middle region, and a conserved C-termlnal dlmerlzatlon domaln. The ARFs can form a protein complex with auxin/indoleacetic acid through homodimerization or heterodlmerization. The particular protein-protein interaction may play a key role in moduiating the expression of early auxin responsive genes. The identification of ARF mutations in Arabidopsis helps to demonstrate/dissect the function of ARFs in the normal growth and development of plants. Phylogenetic analysis also reveals some interesting protein evolution points in the ARF family.

Light Promotes Protein Stability of Auxin Response Factor 7#

Light is an environmental signaling,whereas Aux/IAA proteins and Auxin Response Factors(ARFs)are regulators of auxin signalling.Aux/IAA proteins are unstable,and their degradation dependents on 26S ubiquitin-proteasome and is promoted by Auxin.Auxin binds directly to a SCF-type ubiquitin-protein ligase,TIR1,facilitates the interaction between Aux/IAA proteins and TIR1,and then the degradation of Aux/IAA proteins.A few studies have reported that some ARFs are also unstable proteins,and their degradation is also mediated by 26S proteasome.In this study,by using of antibodies recognizing endogenous ARF7 proteins,we found that protein stability of ARF7 was affected by light.By expressing MYC tagged ARF activators in protoplasts,we found that degradation of ARF7 was inhibited by 26 proteasome inhibitors.In addition,at least ARF5 and ARF19 were also unstable proteins,and degradation of ARF5 via 26S proteasome was further confirmed by using stable transformed plants overexpressing ARF5 with a GUS tag.

Advances in structure and function of auxin response factor in plants

Auxin is a crucial phytohormone that has various effects on the regulators of plant growth and development.Auxin signal transduction is mainly controlled by two gene families:auxin response factor(ARF)and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid(Aux/IAA).ARFs are plant-specific transcription factors that bind directly to auxin response elements in the promoters of auxinresponsive genes.ARF proteins contain three conserved regions:a conserved N-terminal B3DNA-binding domain,a variable intermediate middle region domain that functions in activation or repression,and a C-terminal domain including the Phox and Bem1p region for dimerization,similar to theⅢandⅣelements of Aux/IAA,which facilitate protein–protein interaction through homodimerization of ARF proteins or heterodimerization of ARF and Aux/IAA proteins.In the two decades following the identification of the first ARF,23 ARF members have been identified and characterized in Arabidopsis.Using whole-genome sequencing,22,25,23,25,and 36 ARF genes have been identified in tomato,rice,wheat,sorghum,and maize,respectively,in addition to which the related biofunctions of some ARFs have been reported.ARFs play crucial roles in regulating the growth and development of roots,leaves,flowers,fruits,seeds,responses to biotic and abiotic stresses,and phytohormone signal crosstalk.In this review,we summarize the research progress on the structures and functions of ARFs in Arabidopsis,tomato,and cereal crops,to provide clues for future basic research on phytohormone signaling and the molecular design breeding of crops.

Plant fertility defects induced by the enhanced expression of microRNA167

The plant hormone auxin plays a critical role in regulating plant growth and development. Recent advances have been made in the understanding of auxin response pathways, primarily by the characterization of auxin response mutants in Arabidopsis. In addition, microRNAs （miRNAs） have been shown to be critical regulators of genes important for normal plant development and physiology. However, little is known about possible interactions between miRNAs and hormonal signaling during normal development. Here we show that an Arabidopsis microRNA, miR167, which has a complementary sequence to a portion of the A UXINRESPONSE FACTOR6 （ARF6） and ARF8 mRNAs, can cause transcript degradation for ARF8, but not for ARF6. We report phenotypic characterizations of 35S：：MIR167b transgenic lines, and show that severe 35S：：MIR167b transgenic lines had phenotypes similar to those of an arf6 arf8 double mutant. The transgenic phenotypes suggest that miR167 may repress ARF6 at the level of translation. We demonstrate that the transgenic plants are defective in all four whods of floral organs. In the transgenic flowers, filaments were abnormally short, anthers could not properly release pollen, and pollen grains did not germinate. Our results provide an important link between the miRNA-mediated regulatory pathway of gene expression and the auxin signaling network promoting plant reproductive development.

A crosstalk between auxin and brassinosteroid regulates leaf shape by modulating growth anisotropy

Leaf shape is highly variable within and among plant species,ranging from slender to oval shaped.This is largely determined by the proximodistal axis of growth.However,little is known about how proximal–distal growth is controlled to determine leaf shape.Here,we show that Arabidopsis leaf and sepal proximodistal growth is tuned by two phytohormones.Two class A AUXIN RESPONSE FACTORs(ARFs),ARF6 and ARF8,activate the transcription of DWARF4,which encodes a key brassinosteroid(BR)biosynthetic enzyme.At the cellular level,the phytohormones promote more directional cell expansion along the proximodistal axis,as well as final cell sizes.BRs promote the demethyl-esterification of cell wall pectins,leading to isotropic in-plane cell wall loosening.Notably,numerical simulation showed that isotropic cell wall loosening could lead to directional cell and organ growth along the proximodistal axis.Taken together,we show that auxin acts through biosynthesis of BRs to determine cell wall mechanics and directional cell growth to generate leaves of variable roundness.

Phototropism in land plants： Molecules and mechanism from light perception to response

BACKGROUND： Phototropism is the response a plant exhibits when it is faced with a directional blue light stimulus. Though a seemingly simple differential cell elongation response within a responding tissue that results in organ curvature, phototropism is regulated through a complex set of signal perception and transduction events that move from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. In nature phototropism is one of several plant responses that have evolved to optimize photosynthesis and growth. OBJECTIVE： In the present work we will review the state of the field with respect to the molecules and mechanisms associated with phototropism in land plants. METHODS： A systematic literature search was done to identify relevant advances in the field. Though we tried to focus on literature within the past decade （1998-present）, we have discussed and cited older literature where appropriate because of context or its significant impact to the present field. Several previous review articles are also cited where appropriate and readers should seek those out. RESULTS： A total of 199 articles are cited that fulfill the criteria listed above. CONCLUSIONS： Though important numerous and significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular, biochemical, cell biological and physiologic mechanisms underlying phototropism in land plants over the past decade, there are many remaining unanswered questions. The future is indeed bright for researchers in the field and we look forward to the next decade worth of discoveries.

Genome-wide Identification and Expression of ARF Gene Family during Adventitious Root Development in Hot Pepper(Capsicum annuum)

Auxin response factors(ARFs) are transcription factors that activate or repress the expression of primary/early auxin response genes by binding to auxin-responsive elements(Aux REs) in their promoter regions. The ARFs play important roles in diverse developmental processes.To explore the ARF gene family in hot pepper(Capsicum annuum L.), we performed a genome-wide identification and expression analysis. In this study, 19 pepper ARF genes(Ca ARFs) clustered into three phylogenetic groups(I, II, and III) were comprehensively analyzed. Conserved domain analysis showed that all Ca ARFs contained a B3 DNA-binding domain and a middle domain, but two members lacked the carboxyterminal dimerization(CTD) domain. The number of introns in Ca ARF genes ranged from 1 to 13 and the gene structure was similar among genes in the same phylogenetic group. Additionally, prediction of Ca ARFs promoter elements and putative targets for micro RNAs suggested that the regulation of Ca ARFs may occur at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Most Ca ARFs were expressed in more than one tested tissue, and most Ca ARFs were identified as being responsive to exogenous auxin. Moreover, time-course transcription profiles of Ca ARFs revealed their roles in adventitious rooting of hypocotyl cuttings from pepper seedlings. Therefore, our results will provide a foundation for better understanding the regulatory mechanisms and molecular functions of Ca ARFs in hot pepper.