Auxin transporters--why so many?

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2010 Mar;2(3):a001552. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a001552.

Abstract

Interacting and coordinated auxin transporter actions in plants underlie a flexible network that mobilizes auxin in response to many developmental and environmental changes encountered by these sessile organisms. The independent but synergistic activity of individual transporters can be differentially regulated at various levels. This invests auxin transport mechanisms with robust functional redundancy and added auxin flow capacity when needed. An evolutionary perspective clarifies the roles of the different transporter groups in plant development. Mathematical and functional analysis of elements of auxin transport makes it possible to rationalize the relative contributions of members of the respective transporter classes to the localized auxin transport streams that then underlie both preprogrammed developmental changes and reactions to environmental stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Indoleacetic Acids / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Plant Development
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Indoleacetic Acids
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Plant Proteins