article published yes David Babic author db566d23-f6e0-11ea-865d-e6f270e968e7 Rashed Abualia author 4827E134-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-9357-9415 Lukas Fiedler author 7c417475-8972-11ed-ae7b-8b674ca26986 Linlin Qi author 44B04502-A9ED-11E9-B6FC-583AE66974250000-0001-5187-8401 Frédérique Tellier author Adrijana Smoljan author cced8a85-223e-11ed-af04-b0596c55053b Hana Rakusova author 4CAAA450-78D2-11EA-8E57-B40A396E08BA Petr Valošek author 3CDB6F94-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 Huibin Han author 31435098-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 Eva Benková author 38F4F166-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-8510-9739 Jean Denis Faure author Jiří Friml author 4159519E-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-8302-7596 EvBe department JiFr department GradSch department Peptide receptors for auxin canalization in Arabidopsis project Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), being constituents of different types of lipids, are critical factors in plant development, presumably due to their impact on the endomembrane system. The VLCFAs are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum by a heterotetrameric enzymatic complex including β-ketoacyl CoA reductase 1 (KCR1), whose mutant is lethal. Here, we describe the ectopic shoot meristems (esm) mutant, a viable kcr1 allele presumably affecting surface properties of the KCR1 protein. This kcr1-2 mutant shows reduced fatty acyl elongation that impacts VLCFAs. The kcr1-2 plants show severe defects during different stages of development, which all correlate with defects in polar localization and subcellular trafficking of PIN auxin transporters and resulting asymmetric auxin distribution. Detailed analysis of KCR1 expression and patterning defects in kcr1-2 suggests that KCR1 plays a role in delineating boundaries around meristematic and specialized differentiating tissues, including root and shoot meristems, initiating lateral roots, lateral root primordia, and trichomes. In these contexts, KCR1-produced VLCFAs may act in a non-cell-autonomous manner. Viable kcr1-2 represents a useful tool to study VLCFA roles in plant development and highlights VLCFAs as critical developmental factors at the interface of cell polarity and tissue development. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/20187/20264/2025_PlantJournal_Babic.pdf application/pdfno Wiley2025 eng 0960-7412 1365-313X 40782342 00154788430000110.1111/tpj.70396 1233 https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/record/20362 Babic, D., Abualia, R., Fiedler, L., Qi, L., Tellier, F., Smoljan, A., … Friml, J. (2025). Biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids is required for Arabidopsis auxin-mediated embryonic and post-embryonic development. <i>Plant Journal</i>. Wiley. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396">https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396</a> D. Babic, R. Abualia, L. Fiedler, L. Qi, F. Tellier, A. Smoljan, H. Rakusova, P. Valošek, H. Han, E. Benková, J.D. Faure, J. Friml, Plant Journal 123 (2025). Babic, David, Rashed Abualia, Lukas Fiedler, Linlin Qi, Frédérique Tellier, Adrijana Smoljan, Hana Rakusova, et al. “Biosynthesis of Very Long-Chain Fatty Acids Is Required for Arabidopsis Auxin-Mediated Embryonic and Post-Embryonic Development.” <i>Plant Journal</i>. Wiley, 2025. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396">https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396</a>. D. Babic <i>et al.</i>, “Biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids is required for Arabidopsis auxin-mediated embryonic and post-embryonic development,” <i>Plant Journal</i>, vol. 123, no. 3. Wiley, 2025. Babic, David, et al. “Biosynthesis of Very Long-Chain Fatty Acids Is Required for Arabidopsis Auxin-Mediated Embryonic and Post-Embryonic Development.” <i>Plant Journal</i>, vol. 123, no. 3, e70396, Wiley, 2025, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396">10.1111/tpj.70396</a>. Babic D, Abualia R, Fiedler L, Qi L, Tellier F, Smoljan A, Rakusova H, Valošek P, Han H, Benková E, Faure JD, Friml J. 2025. Biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids is required for Arabidopsis auxin-mediated embryonic and post-embryonic development. Plant Journal. 123(3), e70396. Babic D, Abualia R, Fiedler L, et al. Biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids is required for Arabidopsis auxin-mediated embryonic and post-embryonic development. <i>Plant Journal</i>. 2025;123(3). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70396">10.1111/tpj.70396</a> 201872025-08-17T22:01:36Z2026-04-07T11:52:02Z