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Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Lateral Root Inducible System in Arabidopsis and Maize
Published on: January 14, 2016
A root cap-localized NAC transcription factor controls root halotropic response to salt stress in Arabidopsis
Lulu Zheng1,2,3, Yongfeng Hu4, Tianzhao Yang5
1Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Plants are capable of altering root growth direction to curtail exposure to a saline environment (termed halotropism). The root cap that surrounds root tip meristematic stem cells plays crucial roles in perceiving and responding to environmental stimuli. However, how the root cap mediates root halotropism remains undetermined. Here, we identified a root cap-localized NAC transcription factor, SOMBRERO (SMB), that is required for root halotropism. Its effect on root halotropism is attributable to the establishment of asymmetric auxin distribution in the lateral root cap (LRC) rather than to the alteration of cellular sodium equilibrium or amyloplast statoliths. Furthermore, SMB is essential for basal expression of the auxin influx carrier gene AUX1 in LRC and for auxin redistribution in a spatiotemporally-regulated manner, thereby leading to directional bending of roots away from higher salinity. Our findings uncover an SMB-AUX1-auxin module linking the role of the root cap to the activation of root halotropism.
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Transcription
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Cell Signaling in Plants
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

