Crosstalk between ABA and auxin signaling pathways in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

Planta. 2005 Sep;222(1):98-106. doi: 10.1007/s00425-005-1521-9. Epub 2005 May 12.

Abstract

Studies of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin have revealed that these pathways impinge on each other. The Daucus carota (L.) Dc3 promoter: uidA (beta-glucuronidase: GUS) chimaeric reporter (ProDc3:GUS) is induced by ABA, osmoticum, and the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in vegetative tissues of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Here, we describe the root tissue-specific expression of ProDc3:GUS in the ABA-insensitive-2 (abi2-1), auxin-insensitive-1 (aux1), auxin-resistant-4 (axr4), and rooty (rty1) mutants of Arabidopsis in response to ABA, IAA and synthetic auxins naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and 2, 4-(dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid. Quantitative analysis of ProDc3:GUS expression showed that the abi2-1 mutant had reduced GUS activity in response to ABA, IAA, or 2, 4-D: , but not to NAA. Similarly, chromogenic staining of ProDc3:GUS activity showed that the aux1 and axr4 mutants gave predictable hypomorphic ProDc3:GUS expression phenotypes in roots treated with IAA or 2, 4-D: , but not the diffusible auxin NAA. Likewise the rty mutant, which accumulates auxin, showed elevated ProDc3:GUS expression in the absence or presence of hormones relative to wild type. Interestingly, the aux1 and axr4 mutants showed a hypomorphic effect on ABA-inducible ProDc3:GUS expression, demonstrating that ABA and IAA signaling pathways interact in roots. Possible mechanisms of crosstalk between ABA and auxin signaling are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / pharmacology
  • Abscisic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Arabidopsis / classification*
  • Arabidopsis / drug effects*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Indoleacetic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Naphthaleneacetic Acids / pharmacology
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / genetics
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Plant Growth Regulators / pharmacology
  • Plant Roots / drug effects*
  • Plant Roots / genetics
  • Plant Roots / metabolism*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*

Substances

  • AUX1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Naphthaleneacetic Acids
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
  • 1-naphthaleneacetic acid
  • indoleacetic acid
  • Abscisic Acid
  • ABI1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • ABI2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases