article published yes Mingyue Li author 01f96916-0235-11eb-9379-a323192643b7 Nikola Rydza author Ewa Mazur author Gergely Molnar author 34F1AF46-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87 Tomasz Nodzyński author Jiří Friml author 4159519E-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0002-8302-7596 JiFr department Cyclic nucleotides as second messengers in plants project Identification of a novel regulator in auxin canalization project Auxin canalization is a self-organizing process that governs the flexible formation of vasculature by reinforcing the formation of auxin transport channels. A key prerequisite is the feedback between auxin signaling and directional auxin transport, mediated by PIN transporters. Despite the developmental importance of canalization, the molecular components linking auxin perception to the regulation of PIN auxin transporters remain poorly understood. Here, we identify TOW, a novel and essential component of auxin canalization that links intracellular auxin signaling with cell surface auxin perception. TOW is regulated downstream of TIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA-WRKY23 transcriptional auxin signaling. tow mutants exhibit defects in regeneration and de novo vasculature formation, along with impaired formation of polarized, PIN-expressing auxin channels. At the subcellular level, these mutants display disrupted auxin-induced PIN polarization and altered PIN endocytic trafficking dynamics. TOW localizes predominantly to the plasma membrane, where it interacts with receptor-like kinases involved in auxin canalization, including the TMK1 auxin co-receptor and the CAMEL-CANAR complex. TOW promotes PIN interaction with these kinases and stabilizes PINs at the cell surface. Together, our findings identify TOW as a molecular link between intracellular and cell surface auxin signaling mechanisms that converge on PIN trafficking and polarity, providing new insights into how auxin signaling regulates directional auxin transport for the self-organizing formation of vasculature during flexible plant development. https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/21490/21496/2026_CurrentBiology_Li.pdf application/pdfno Elsevier2026 eng 0960-9822 4183144110.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023 3661468-1480.e6 Li M, Rydza N, Mazur E, Molnar G, Nodzyński T, Friml J. Receptor-like-kinase-interacting protein TOW stabilizes PIN transporters for auxin canalization. <i>Current Biology</i>. 2026;36(6):1468-1480.e6. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023">10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023</a> M. Li, N. Rydza, E. Mazur, G. Molnar, T. Nodzyński, J. Friml, Current Biology 36 (2026) 1468–1480.e6. Li M, Rydza N, Mazur E, Molnar G, Nodzyński T, Friml J. 2026. Receptor-like-kinase-interacting protein TOW stabilizes PIN transporters for auxin canalization. Current Biology. 36(6), 1468–1480.e6. M. Li, N. Rydza, E. Mazur, G. Molnar, T. Nodzyński, and J. Friml, “Receptor-like-kinase-interacting protein TOW stabilizes PIN transporters for auxin canalization,” <i>Current Biology</i>, vol. 36, no. 6. Elsevier, p. 1468–1480.e6, 2026. Li, M., Rydza, N., Mazur, E., Molnar, G., Nodzyński, T., &#38; Friml, J. (2026). Receptor-like-kinase-interacting protein TOW stabilizes PIN transporters for auxin canalization. <i>Current Biology</i>. Elsevier. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023</a> Li, Mingyue, Nikola Rydza, Ewa Mazur, Gergely Molnar, Tomasz Nodzyński, and Jiří Friml. “Receptor-like-Kinase-Interacting Protein TOW Stabilizes PIN Transporters for Auxin Canalization.” <i>Current Biology</i>. Elsevier, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023</a>. Li, Mingyue, et al. “Receptor-like-Kinase-Interacting Protein TOW Stabilizes PIN Transporters for Auxin Canalization.” <i>Current Biology</i>, vol. 36, no. 6, Elsevier, 2026, p. 1468–1480.e6, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023">10.1016/j.cub.2026.02.023</a>. 214902026-03-23T15:11:16Z2026-03-24T08:36:40Z