Casting the Net-Connecting Auxin Signaling to the Plant Genome

Auxin represents one of the most potent and most versatile hormonal signals in the plant kingdom. Built on a simple core of only a few dedicated components, the auxin signaling system plays important roles for diverse aspects of plant development, physiology, and defense. Key to the diversity of context-dependent functional outputs generated by cells in response to this small molecule are gene duplication events and sub-functionalization of signaling components on the one hand, and a deep embedding of the auxin signaling system into complex regulatory networks on the other hand. Together, these evolutionary innovations provide the mechanisms to allow each cell to display a highly specific auxin response that suits its individual requirements. In this review, we discuss the regulatory networks connecting auxin with a large number of diverse pathways at all relevant levels of the signaling system ranging from biosynthesis to transcriptional response.

Automated summary

Auxin, one of the most potent and versatile hormonal signals in plants, plays crucial roles in plant development, physiology, and defense. The diversity of functional outputs in response to auxin is achieved through gene duplication events, sub-functionalization of signaling components, and integration of the auxin signaling system into complex regulatory networks. These evolutionary innovations allow each cell to exhibit a highly specific auxin response tailored to its individual requirements.