The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an extensive network of intracellular membranes. Its major functions include proteosynthesis, protein folding, post-transcriptional modification and sorting of proteins within the cell, and lipid anabolism. Moreover, several studies have suggested that it may be involved in regulating intracellular auxin homeostasis in plants by modulating its metabolism. Therefore, to study auxin metabolome in the ER, it is necessary to obtain a highly enriched (ideally, pure) ER fraction. Isolation of the ER is challenging because its biochemical properties are very similar to those of other cellular endomembranes. Most published protocols for ER isolation use density gradient ultracentrifugation, despite its suboptimal resolving power. Here we present an optimised protocol for ER isolation from Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings for the subsequent mass spectrometric determination of ER-specific auxin metabolite profiles. Auxin metabolite analysis revealed highly elevated levels of active auxin form (IAA) within the ER compared to whole plants. Moreover, samples prepared using our optimised isolation ER protocol are amenable to analysis using various "omics" technologies including analyses of both macromolecular and low molecular weight compounds from the same sample.

• Klíčová slova
• auxin, density gradient centrifugation, endoplasmic reticulum, mass spectrometry, subcellular fractionation,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• endoplazmatické retikulum metabolismus   MeSH
• kyseliny indoloctové metabolismus   MeSH
• metabolom MeSH
• metabolomika metody   MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteomika metody   MeSH
• rostlinné buňky MeSH
• semenáček cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• indoleacetic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• kyseliny indoloctové MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku MeSH

Cytokinins are a class of phytohormones, signalling molecules specific to plants. They act as regulators of diverse physiological processes in complex signalling pathways. It is necessary for plants to continuously regulate cytokinin distribution among different organs, tissues, cells, and compartments. Such regulatory mechanisms include cytokinin biosynthesis, metabolic conversions and degradation, as well as cytokinin membrane transport. In our review, we aim to provide a thorough picture of the latter. We begin by summarizing cytokinin structures and physicochemical properties. Then, we revise the elementary thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of cytokinin membrane transport. Next, we review which membrane-bound carrier proteins and protein families recognize cytokinins as their substrates. Namely, we discuss the families of "equilibrative nucleoside transporters" and "purine permeases", which translocate diverse purine-related compounds, and proteins AtPUP14, AtABCG14, AtAZG1, and AtAZG2, which are specific to cytokinins. We also address long-distance cytokinin transport. Putting all these pieces together, we finally discuss cytokinin distribution as a net result of these processes, diverse in their physicochemical nature but acting together to promote plant fitness.

• Klíčová slova
• ABCG14, AZG1, AZG2, PUP14, cytokinin distribution, cytokinin hydrophobicity, cytokinin transport, membrane transport,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis metabolismus   MeSH
• biologický transport MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• homeostáza MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• kořeny rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• membránové transportní proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku genetika   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce fyziologie   MeSH
• termodynamika MeSH
• výhonky rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokininy MeSH
• membránové transportní proteiny MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH

The epidermal cell layer of plants has important functions in regulating plant growth and development. We have studied the impact of an altered epidermal cytokinin metabolism on Arabidopsis shoot development. Increased epidermal cytokinin synthesis or breakdown was achieved through expression of the cytokinin synthesis gene LOG4 and the cytokinin-degrading CKX1 gene, respectively, under the control of the epidermis-specific AtML1 promoter. During vegetative growth, increased epidermal cytokinin production caused an increased size of the shoot apical meristem and promoted earlier flowering. Leaves became larger and the shoots showed an earlier juvenile-to-adult transition. An increased cytokinin breakdown had the opposite effect on these phenotypic traits indicating that epidermal cytokinin metabolism can be a factor regulating these aspects of shoot development. The phenotypic consequences of abbreviated cytokinin signaling in the epidermis achieved through expression of the ARR1-SRDX repressor were generally milder or even absent indicating that the epidermal cytokinin acts, at least in part, cell non-autonomously. Enhanced epidermal cytokinin synthesis delayed cell differentiation during leaf development leading to an increased cell proliferation and leaf growth. Genetic analysis showed that this cytokinin activity was mediated mainly by the AHK3 receptor and the transcription factor ARR1. We also demonstrate that epidermal cytokinin promotes leaf growth in a largely cell-autonomous fashion. Increased cytokinin synthesis in the outer layer of reproductive tissues and in the placenta enhanced ovule formation by the placenta and caused the formation of larger siliques. This led to a higher number of seeds in larger pods resulting in an increased seed yield per plant. Collectively, the results provide evidence that the cytokinin metabolism in the epidermis is a relevant parameter determining vegetative and reproductive plant growth and development.

• Klíčová slova
• Arabidopsis, cytokinin, developmental transitions, epidermis, seed yield, shoot growth,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Plants growing in any particular geographical location are exposed to variable and diverse environmental conditions throughout their lifespan. The multifactorial environmental pressure resulted into evolution of plant adaptation and survival strategies requiring ability to integrate multiple signals that combine to yield specific responses. These adaptive responses enable plants to maintain their growth and development while acquiring tolerance to a variety of environmental conditions. An essential signaling cascade that incorporates a wide range of exogenous as well as endogenous stimuli is multistep phosphorelay (MSP). MSP mediates the signaling of essential plant hormones that balance growth, development, and environmental adaptation. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which specific signals are recognized by a commonly-occurring pathway are not yet clearly understood. Here we summarize our knowledge on the latest model of multistep phosphorelay signaling in plants and the molecular mechanisms underlying the integration of multiple inputs including both hormonal (cytokinins, ethylene and abscisic acid) and environmental (light and temperature) signals into a common pathway. We provide an overview of abiotic stress responses mediated via MSP signaling that are both hormone-dependent and independent. We highlight the mutual interactions of key players such as sensor kinases of various substrate specificities including their downstream targets. These constitute a tightly interconnected signaling network, enabling timely adaptation by the plant to an ever-changing environment. Finally, we propose possible future directions in stress-oriented research on MSP signaling and highlight its potential importance for targeted crop breeding.

• Klíčová slova
• Arabidopsis, abiotic stress, abscisic acid, cytokinin, ethylene, light signaling, multistep phosphorelay (MSP), temperature,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Cytokinins are plant hormones, derivatives of adenine with a side chain at the N6-position. They are involved in many physiological processes. While the metabolism of trans-zeatin and isopentenyladenine, which are considered to be highly active cytokinins, has been extensively studied, there are others with less obvious functions, such as cis-zeatin, dihydrozeatin, and aromatic cytokinins, which have been comparatively neglected. To help explain this duality, we present a novel hypothesis metaphorically comparing various cytokinin forms, enzymes of CK metabolism, and their signalling and transporter functions to the comics superheroes Hulk and Deadpool. Hulk is a powerful but short-lived creation, whilst Deadpool presents a more subtle and enduring force. With this dual framework in mind, this review compares different cytokinin metabolites, and their biosynthesis, translocation, and sensing to illustrate the different mechanisms behind the two CK strategies. This is put together and applied to a plant developmental scale and, beyond plants, to interactions with organisms of other kingdoms, to highlight where future study can benefit the understanding of plant fitness and productivity.

• Klíčová slova
• Hulk/Deadpool, aromatic cytokinins, cis-zeatin, cytokinin biosynthesis, cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase, cytokinin signalling, cytokinin transport, cytokinins, isopentenyl transferase,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis metabolismus   MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• biologický transport MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologie rostlin * MeSH
• glykosylace MeSH
• hydrolýza MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• kinetin metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy metabolismus   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• rostliny metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce * MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zeatin analogy a deriváty   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokinin oxidase MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokininy MeSH
• dihydrozeatin MeSH Prohlížeč
• kinetin MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH
• zeatin MeSH

Cytokinins are mobile multifunctional plant hormones with roles in development and stress resilience. Although their Histidine Kinase receptors are substantially localised to the endoplasmic reticulum, cellular sites of cytokinin perception and importance of spatially heterogeneous cytokinin distribution continue to be debated. Here we show that cytokinin perception by plasma membrane receptors is an effective additional path for cytokinin response. Readout from a Two Component Signalling cytokinin-specific reporter (TCSn::GFP) closely matches intracellular cytokinin content in roots, yet we also find cytokinins in extracellular fluid, potentially enabling action at the cell surface. Cytokinins covalently linked to beads that could not pass the plasma membrane increased expression of both TCSn::GFP and Cytokinin Response Factors. Super-resolution microscopy of GFP-labelled receptors and diminished TCSn::GFP response to immobilised cytokinins in cytokinin receptor mutants, further indicate that receptors can function at the cell surface. We argue that dual intracellular and surface locations may augment flexibility of cytokinin responses.

• MeSH
• adenin analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• Arabidopsis cytologie   účinky léků   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• extracelulární tekutina metabolismus   MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
• histidinkinasa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2-chloro-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)aminopurine MeSH Prohlížeč
• adenin MeSH
• AHK2 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Prohlížeč
• AHK3 protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokininy MeSH
• histidinkinasa MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH

Plant hormone cytokinins are perceived by a subfamily of sensor histidine kinases (HKs), which via a two-component phosphorelay cascade activate transcriptional responses in the nucleus. Subcellular localization of the receptors proposed the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane as a principal cytokinin perception site, while study of cytokinin transport pointed to the plasma membrane (PM)-mediated cytokinin signalling. Here, by detailed monitoring of subcellular localizations of the fluorescently labelled natural cytokinin probe and the receptor ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE KINASE 4 (CRE1/AHK4) fused to GFP reporter, we show that pools of the ER-located cytokinin receptors can enter the secretory pathway and reach the PM in cells of the root apical meristem, and the cell plate of dividing meristematic cells. Brefeldin A (BFA) experiments revealed vesicular recycling of the receptor and its accumulation in BFA compartments. We provide a revised view on cytokinin signalling and the possibility of multiple sites of perception at PM and ER.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis cytologie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• brefeldin A farmakologie   MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokininy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• endoplazmatické retikulum metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny MeSH
• meristém cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteinkinasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory buněčného povrchu genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• brefeldin A MeSH
• cytokininy MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva MeSH
• proteinkinasy MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku MeSH
• receptory buněčného povrchu MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny MeSH
• WOL protein, Arabidopsis MeSH Prohlížeč
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH

Five poplar CHASE-containing histidine kinase receptors bind cytokinins and display kinase activities. Both endogenous isoprenoid and aromatic cytokinins bind to the receptors in live cell assays. Cytokinins are phytohormones that play key roles in various developmental processes in plants. The poplar species Populus × canadensis, cv. Robusta, is the first organism found to contain aromatic cytokinins. Here, we report the functional characterization of five CHASE-containing histidine kinases from P. × canadensis: PcHK2, PcHK3a, PcHK3b, PcHK4a and PcHK4b. A qPCR analysis revealed high transcript levels of all PcHKs other than PcHK4b across multiple poplar organs. The ligand specificity was determined using a live cell Escherichia coli assay and we provide evidence based on UHPLC-MS/MS data that ribosides can be true ligands. PcHK2 exhibited higher sensitivity to iP-type cytokinins than the other receptors, while PcHK3a and PcHK3b bound these cytokinins much more weakly, because they possess two isoleucine residues that clash with the cytokinin base and destabilize its binding. All receptors display kinase activity but their activation ratios in the presence/absence of cytokinin differ significantly. PcHK4a displays over 400-fold higher kinase activity in the presence of cytokinin, suggesting involvement in strong responses to changes in cytokinin levels. trans-Zeatin was both the most abundant cytokinin in poplar and that with the highest variation in abundance, which is consistent with its strong binding to all five HKs and activation of cytokinin signaling via A-type response regulators. The aromatic cytokinins' biological significance remains unclear, their levels vary diurnally, seasonally, and annually. PcHK3 and PcHK4 display the strongest binding at pH 7.5 and 5.5, respectively, in line with their putative membrane localization in the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane.

• Klíčová slova
• Aromatic cytokinin, Histidine kinase, Hormone, Isoprenoid cytokinin, Poplar, Topolin,
• MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• histidinkinasa metabolismus   MeSH
• Populus metabolismus   MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• terpeny metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokininy MeSH
• histidinkinasa MeSH
• terpeny MeSH

Plant hormones are master regulators of plant growth and development. Better knowledge of their spatial signaling and homeostasis (transport and metabolism) on the lowest structural levels (cellular and subcellular) is therefore crucial to a better understanding of developmental processes in plants. Recent progress in phytohormone analysis at the cellular and subcellular levels has greatly improved the effectiveness of isolation protocols and the sensitivity of analytical methods. This review is mainly focused on homeostasis of two plant hormone groups, auxins and cytokinins. It will summarize and discuss their tissue- and cell-type specific distributions at the cellular and subcellular levels.

• Klíčová slova
• auxin, cellular level, cytokinin, phytohormone metabolism, phytohormone transport, subcellular level,
• MeSH
• biologický transport MeSH
• cytokininy metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologie rostlin * MeSH
• homeostáza * MeSH
• intracelulární prostor metabolismus   MeSH
• kyseliny indoloctové metabolismus   MeSH
• metabolické sítě a dráhy MeSH
• organely metabolismus   MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• vývoj rostlin * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokininy MeSH
• kyseliny indoloctové MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin MeSH

Degradation of the plant hormone cytokinin is controlled by cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) enzymes. The molecular and cellular behavior of these proteins is still largely unknown. In this study, we show that CKX1 is a type II single-pass membrane protein that localizes predominantly to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). This indicates that this CKX isoform is a bona fide ER protein directly controlling the cytokinin, which triggers the signaling from the ER. By using various approaches, we demonstrate that CKX1 forms homodimers and homooligomers in vivo. The amino-terminal part of CKX1 was necessary and sufficient for the protein oligomerization as well as for targeting and retention in the ER. Moreover, we show that protein-protein interaction is largely facilitated by transmembrane helices and depends on a functional GxxxG-like interaction motif. Importantly, mutations rendering CKX1 monomeric interfere with its steady-state localization in the ER and cause a loss of the CKX1 biological activity by increasing its ER-associated degradation. Therefore, our study provides evidence that oligomerization is a crucial parameter regulating CKX1 biological activity and the cytokinin concentration in the ER. The work also lends strong support for the cytokinin signaling from the ER and for the functional relevance of the cytokinin pool in this compartment.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis metabolismus   MeSH
• endoplazmatické retikulum metabolismus   MeSH
• membránové proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• multimerizace proteinu * MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• proteiny - lokalizační signály MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• stabilita proteinů MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokinin oxidase MeSH Prohlížeč
• membránové proteiny MeSH
• oxidoreduktasy MeSH
• proteiny - lokalizační signály MeSH
• proteiny huseníčku MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny MeSH
• zelené fluorescenční proteiny MeSH