| Structural highlights
Function
GH36_ARATH Catalyzes the synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-amino acid conjugates, providing a mechanism for the plant to cope with the presence of excess auxin. Strongly reactive with Glu, Gln, Trp, Asp, Ala, Leu, Phe, Gly, Tyr, Met, Ile and Val. Little or no product formation with His, Ser, Thr, Arg, Lys, or Cys. Also active on pyruvic and butyric acid analogs of IAA, PAA and the synthetic auxin naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The two chlorinated synthetic auxin herbicides 2,4-D and 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba) cannot be used as substrates (PubMed:15659623). Involved in auxin signal transduction. Inhibits shoot and hypocotyl cell elongation, and lateral root cell differentiation in light (PubMed:11169197).[1] [2]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
In recent years, substantial progress has been made in exploring auxin conjugation and metabolism, primarily aiming at indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). However, the metabolic regulation of another key auxin, phenylacetic acid (PAA), remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we provide a comprehensive exploration of PAA metabolism in land plants. Through LC-MS screening across multiple plant species and their organs, we identified four previously unreported endogenous PAA metabolites: phenylacetyl-leucine (PAA-Leu), phenylacetyl-phenylalanine (PAA-Phe), phenylacetyl-valine (PAA-Val), and phenylacetyl-glucose (PAA-glc). Enzyme assays, genetic evidence, crystal structures, and docking studies demonstrate that PAA and IAA share core metabolic machinery, revealing a complex regulatory network that maintains auxin homeostasis. Furthermore, our study of PAA conjugation with amino acids and glucose suggests limited compensatory mechanisms within known conjugation pathways, pointing to the existence of alternative metabolic routes in land plants. These insights advance our knowledge of auxin-specific metabolic networks and highlight the unique complexity within plant hormone regulation.
Phenylacetic acid metabolism in land plants: novel pathways and metabolites.,Hladik P, Brunoni F, Zukauskaite A, Zatloukal M, Belicek J, Kopecny D, Briozzo P, Ferchaud N, Novak O, Pencik A J Exp Bot. 2025 Mar 24:eraf092. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eraf092. PMID:40130494[3]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Nakazawa M, Yabe N, Ichikawa T, Yamamoto YY, Yoshizumi T, Hasunuma K, Matsui M. DFL1, an auxin-responsive GH3 gene homologue, negatively regulates shoot cell elongation and lateral root formation, and positively regulates the light response of hypocotyl length. Plant J. 2001 Jan;25(2):213-21. PMID:11169197
- ↑ Staswick PE, Serban B, Rowe M, Tiryaki I, Maldonado MT, Maldonado MC, Suza W. Characterization of an Arabidopsis enzyme family that conjugates amino acids to indole-3-acetic acid. Plant Cell. 2005 Feb;17(2):616-27. Epub 2005 Jan 19. PMID:15659623 doi:http://dx.doi.org/tpc.104.026690
- ↑ Hladík P, Brunoni F, Žukauskaitė A, Zatloukal M, Bělíček J, Kopečný D, Briozzo P, Ferchaud N, Novák O, Pěnčík A. Phenylacetic acid metabolism in land plants: novel pathways and metabolites. J Exp Bot. 2025 Mar 24:eraf092. PMID:40130494 doi:10.1093/jxb/eraf092
|
