As above, so below: Auxin's role in lateral organ development

• Published in: Developmental biology Vol. 419; no. 1; pp. 156 - 164
• Main Authors: Taylor-Teeples, Mallorie, Lanctot, Amy, Nemhauser, Jennifer L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; auxins; cell communication; cell division; Cytokinins - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Hormone signaling; Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism; Inflorescence - growth & development; Models, Biological; organogenesis; phyllotaxy; plant architecture; Plant Development - genetics; Plant Development - physiology; plant hormones; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plant Shoots - growth & development; Root branching; Seeds - growth & development; Shoot architecture; Stem Cell Niche; Root branching; Shoot architecture; Hormone signaling
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.03.020

Organogenesis requires the coordination of many highly-regulated developmental processes, including cell fate determination, cell division and growth, and cell-cell communication. For tissue- and organ-scale coordination, a network of regulators enables molecular events in individual cells to translate into multicellular changes in structure and functional capacity. One recurrent theme in plant developmental networks is a central role for plant hormones, especially auxin. Here, we focus first on describing recent advances in understanding lateral root development, one of the best-studied examples of auxin-mediated organogenesis. We then use this framework to examine the parallel process of emergence of lateral organs in the shoot—a process called phyllotaxy. This comparison reveals a high degree of conservation, highlighting auxin's pivotal role determining overall plant architecture. •Auxin plays a critical role in shaping plant architecture.•Similar auxin-driven gene modules impact development in shoots and roots.•New approaches elucidate how auxin GRNs translate into developmental outcomes.