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PIN proteins and the evolution of plant development
1Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR, UK.
Trends in Plant Science
|June 9, 2015
Summary
PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins regulate auxin transport crucial for plant development. This review explores PIN evolution and function across land plants, finding major auxin transport innovations are rare and don't drive new developmental mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins are key regulators of auxin transport in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- The function of PIN-mediated auxin transport in diverse plant species remains largely unexplored.
- Auxin distribution is critical for various plant developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding the evolution of PIN-mediated auxin transport.
- To examine the role of PIN proteins in plant development across the green plant lineage.
- To discuss the relationship between auxin biology, morphological novelty, and developmental mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on PIN-FORMED proteins and auxin transport.
- Comparative analysis of PIN gene families and their roles in different plant species.
- Synthesis of evidence regarding auxin biology and plant morphological evolution.
Main Results:
- PIN-mediated auxin transport is conserved across land plants, playing vital roles in development.
- Evidence suggests that significant innovations in auxin transport mechanisms are infrequent.
- Major changes in auxin transport do not appear to be strongly associated with the emergence of new developmental pathways.
Conclusions:
- PIN-mediated auxin transport is a fundamental mechanism underpinning plant development across diverse lineages.
- The evolution of plant morphology is not primarily driven by major innovations in auxin transport.
- Understanding auxin transport evolution provides insights into conserved and divergent developmental strategies in plants.
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