ROS responsive Aux/IAA multimerization modulates auxin responses

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as key signals in plants to enable adaptation to environmental stresses. Plant roots respond to transient water stress by temporarily ceasing branching using the acclimative response xerobranching1. In this study, we report that a rapid ROS burst regulates Xerobranching by inducing multimerization of auxin repressor protein IAA3/SHY2. Mutations in specific cysteine residues in IAA3/SHY2 disrupt redox-mediated multimerization and interaction with co-repressor TPL, but not with auxin response partner ARF7 and auxin receptor TIR1. ROS-mediated oligomerization of IAA3/SHY2 is required for efficient ARF mediated target gene repression during Xerobranching and lateral root emergence. We demonstrate that AUX/IAA proteins vary in their redox mediated multimerization, revealing a new auxin response regulatory mechanism that directly connects ROS sensing to auxin signalling. Our study reveals how ROS, auxin and water stress intersect to shape acclimative responses in plant roots and maintain their phenotypic plasticity.