Steffen Abel1 and Athanasios Theologis2
-Author Affiliations
1Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
2Plant Gene Expression Center, Albany, California 94710
Correspondence:sabel@ipb-halle.de
Abstract
The history of plant biology is inexorably intertwined with the conception and discovery of auxin, followed by the many decades of research to comprehend its action during growth and development. Growth responses to auxin are complex and require the coordination of auxin production, transport, and perception. In this overview of past auxin research, we limit our discourse to the mechanism of auxin action. We attempt to trace the almost epic voyage from the birth of the hormonal concept in plants to the recent crystallographic studies that resolved the TIR1-auxin receptor complex, the first structural model of a plant hormone receptor. The century-long endeavor is a beautiful illustration of the power of scientific reasoning and human intuition, but it also brings to light the fact that decisive progress is made when new technologies emerge and disciplines unite.
Copyright © 2010 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved
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