Rapid and reversible root growth inhibition by TIR1 auxin signalling

The phytohormone auxin is the information carrier in a plethora of developmental and physiological processes in plants(1). It has been firmly established that canonical, nuclear auxin signalling acts through regulation of gene transcription(2). Here, we combined microfluidics, live imaging, genetic engineering and computational modelling to reanalyse the classical case of root growth inhibition(3) by auxin. We show that Arabidopsis roots react to addition and removal of auxin by extremely rapid adaptation of growth rate. This process requires intracellular auxin perception but not transcriptional reprogramming. The formation of the canonical TIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA co-receptor complex is required for the growth regulation, hinting to a novel, non-transcriptional branch of this signalling pathway. Our results challenge the current understanding of root growth regulation by auxin and suggest another, presumably non-transcriptional, signalling output of the canonical auxin pathway.