Strigolactone Signaling Genes Showing Differential Expression Patterns in Arabidopsis max Mutants

Abstract

Strigolactone (SL) is a recently discovered class of phytohormone that inhibits shoot branching. The molecular mechanism underlying SL biosynthesis, perception, and signal transduction is vital to the plant branching phenotype. Some aspects of their biosynthesis, perception, and signaling include the role of four <i>MORE AXILLARY GROWTH</i> genes, <i>MAX3, MAX4, MAX1</i>, and <i>MAX2</i>. It is important to identify downstream genes that are involved in SL signaling. To achieve this, we studied the genomic aspects of the strigolactone biosynthesis pathway using microarray analysis of four <i>max</i> mutants. We identified SL signaling candidate genes that showed differential expression patterns in <i>max</i> mutants. More specifically, <i>1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLATE SYNTHASE 4</i> (<i>ACC4</i>) and <i>PROTEIN KINASE 3</i> (<i>PKS3</i>) displayed contrasting expression patterns, indicating a regulatory mechanism in SL signaling pathway to control different phenotypes apart from branching phenotype.