Mechanisms of auxin action in plant growth and development

The phytohormone auxin is a major signal coordinating growth and development in plants. The variety of its effects arises from its ability to form local auxin maxima and gradients within tissues, generated through directional cell-to-cell transport and elaborate metabolic control. These auxin distribution patterns instruct cells in a context-dependent manner to undergo predefined developmental transitions. In this Review, we discuss advances in auxin action at the level of homeostasis and signalling. We highlight key insights into the structural basis of PIN-mediated intercellular auxin transport and explore two novel non-transcriptional auxin signalling mechanisms: one involving intracellular Ca2+ transients and another involving cell-surface auxin perception that mediates global, ultrafast phosphorylation. Furthermore, we examine emerging evidence indicating the involvement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate as a second messenger in the transcriptional auxin response. Together, these recent developments in auxin research have profoundly deepened our understanding of the complex and diverse activities of auxin in plant growth and development.