Identification of a new gibberellin receptor agonist, diphegaractin, by a cell-free chemical screening system

Gibberellin (GA) is a phytohormone that regulates various developmental processes during the plant life cycle. In this study, we identify a new GA agonist, diphegaractin, using a wheat cell-free based drug screening system with grape GA receptor. A GA-dependent interaction assay system using GA receptors and DELLA proteins from Vitis vinifera was constructed using AlphaScreen technology and cell-free produced proteins. From the chemical compound library, diphegaractin was found to enhance the interactions between GA receptors and DELLA proteins from grape in vitro. In grapes, we found that diphegaractin induces elongation of the bunch and increases the sugar concentration of grape berries. Furthermore, diphegaractin shows GA-like activity, including promotion of root elongation in lettuce and Arabidopsis, as well as reducing peel pigmentation and suppressing peel puffing in citrus fruit. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to successfully identify a GA receptor agonist showing GA-like activity in agricultural plants using an in vitro molecular-targeted drug screening system.