Abstract

An important question in plant biology is how genes influence the crosstalk between hormones to regulate growth. In this study, we model POLARIS (PLS) gene function and crosstalk between auxin, ethylene and cytokinin in Arabidopsis. Experimental evidence suggests that PLS acts on or close to the ethylene receptor ETR1, and a mathematical model describing possible PLS-ethylene pathway interactions is developed, and used to make quantitative predictions about PLS-hormone interactions. Modelling correctly predicts experimental results for the effect of the pls gene mutation on endogenous cytokinin concentration. Modelling also reveals a role for PLS in auxin biosynthesis in addition to a role in auxin transport. The model reproduces available mutants, and with new experimental data provides new insights into how PLS regulates auxin concentration, by controlling the relative contribution of auxin transport and biosynthesis and by integrating auxin, ethylene and cytokinin signalling. Modelling further reveals that a bell-shaped dose-response relationship between endogenous auxin and root length is established via PLS. This combined modelling and experimental analysis provides new insights into the integration of hormonal signals in plants. Molecular Systems Biology 6: 373; published online 8 June 2010; doi:10.1038/msb.2010.26

Keywords

hormonal crosstalk; mathematical model; POLARIS gene; root development

Published in

Molecular Systems Biology
2010, Volume: 6, article number: 373
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Tarkowski, Petr

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2010.26

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/48065