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Auxin uptake in molecular detail
Chitra Joshi1, Ranjan Swarup2, Richard Napier3
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK.
Trends in Plant Science
|September 10, 2025
Summary
Auxin transport proteins AUX1 and LAX facilitate auxin uptake, crucial for plant development. New structural data reveals how these transporters couple auxin influx to proton flux, clarifying their mechanism of action.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Molecular mechanisms of transport
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Auxin is a key plant hormone regulating development.
- Auxin uptake is mediated by AUX1 and LAX transporter families.
- The precise mechanism of auxin uptake by these transporters remained elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism of auxin uptake by AUX1 and LAX proteins.
- To understand how auxin transport is coupled to proton flux.
- To provide structural insights into transporter function.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography
- Biochemical assays
- Structural biology analysis
Main Results:
- Provided high-resolution structures of AUX1 and LAX transporters.
- Revealed conformational changes associated with substrate binding and transport.
- Demonstrated the direct coupling of auxin influx to proton symport.
Conclusions:
- The structures provide a mechanistic basis for auxin uptake via AUX1/LAX.
- Understanding this process is vital for plant growth and development.
- These findings open new avenues for modulating plant hormone signaling.
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