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Origin and evolution of the nuclear auxin response system
Sumanth K Mutte1, Hirotaka Kato1, Carl Rothfels2
1Laboratory of Biochemistry, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Elife
|March 28, 2018
Summary
The evolution of the auxin response system is unique to land plants, with ancient protein components assembling into a sophisticated mechanism. This study reveals unexpected roles for non-canonical proteins in auxin signaling.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Auxin is a crucial signaling molecule regulating plant development by controlling gene expression.
- The origin and evolution of auxin response protein families remain poorly understood.
- Understanding these protein families is key to deciphering auxin's diverse roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct the origin and evolutionary trajectory of nuclear auxin response protein families.
- To elucidate the step-by-step evolution of the auxin response system.
- To investigate the functional contributions of ancient proteins in auxin signaling.
Main Methods:
- Deep phylogenomics to analyze protein family evolution.
- Functional phylogenomics to predict evolutionary steps.
- Comparative transcriptomics across six plant lineages.
- Genetic analysis in a basal land plant.
Main Results:
- A complete auxin response mechanism is exclusive to land plants, despite ancient subdomains.
- Evolutionary steps in response system properties were predicted.
- Innovations in auxin response were shaped by evolutionary processes.
- Ancient non-canonical proteins and core transcription factors have roles in auxin response and other functions.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a functional evolutionary framework for auxin signaling.
- Auxin response systems evolved sophisticated mechanisms unique to land plants.
- Ancient proteins play diverse roles in plant development and signaling.
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