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中国科学技术大学发表最新Cell论文
生物世界· 2025-05-16 03:54
Core Insights - The article discusses the critical role of auxin, the first discovered plant hormone, in coordinating various aspects of plant growth and development, as well as its response to environmental signals [2][5] - A significant breakthrough in the field of plant hormone transport is highlighted, with the first report of the three-dimensional structure of the auxin influx protein AUX1, elucidating its molecular mechanism for transporting auxin into cells [3][5] Group 1: Auxin and Its Mechanism - Auxin plays a vital role in regulating plant growth and development, influencing processes such as root and bud formation, stem and leaf growth, and responses to light and gravity [2][5] - The unique polar auxin transport (PAT) system relies on the formation of concentration gradients, which are essential for auxin's various functions within the plant [2][5] - The transport of auxin is mediated by three families of proteins: the PIN and ABCB families for efflux, and the AUX1/LAX family for influx, with the latter being crucial for understanding the polar transport mechanism [2][5] Group 2: Recent Research Findings - The recent study published in the journal Cell reveals the characteristics of auxin transport mediated by the AUX1 protein in Arabidopsis, utilizing cryo-electron microscopy to determine its structure in three states: unbound, auxin-bound, and bound to a competitive inhibitor [3][5][7] - The binding of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to AUX1 is primarily through hydrogen bonds formed by its carboxyl group, with key amino acid residues validated through in vitro and in vivo analyses [5][7] - The findings fill a critical gap in understanding the polar transport of auxin and pave the way for future development of small molecule regulators based on these transport proteins, which could have applications in agricultural herbicide development and enhancing crop yield and environmental adaptability [7]