ATANN3 is involved in extracellular ATP-regulated auxin transport and distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings

Abstract Background Extracellular ATP (eATP) exists in the apoplast of plants and plays multiple roles in growth, development, and stress responses. It has been reported that eATP stimulation suppresses growth rate and alters growth orientation of root and hypocotyls of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings by affecting auxin accumulation and transport in these organs. However, the mechanism of eATP-stimulated vegetative organ growth remains unclear. Annexins are involved in multiple aspects of plant cellular metabolism, while the role of annexins in response to apoplast signal remains unclear. Here, by using loss-of-function mutants, we investigated the role of several annexins in eATP-regulated root and hypocotyl growth. Since mutant of AtANN3 did not respond to eATP sensitively, the role of AtANN3 in eATP regulated auxin transport was intensively investigated. Results First, the inhibitory effect of eATP on root or hypocotyl elongation was weakened or impaired in AtANN3 null mutants (atann3). Meanwhile, single-, double- or triple-null mutant of AtANN1, AtANN2 or AtANN4 responded to eATP stimulation in same manner and degree with Col-0. The abundance and distribution of Dr5-GUS and Dr5-GFP indicated that eATP-induced accumulation and asymmetric distribution of auxin in root tip or hypocotyl cells, which appeared in wild type controls, were lacking in atann3 seedlings. Further, eATP-induced accumulation and asymmetric distribution of PIN2-GFP in root tip cells or PIN3-GFP in hypocotyl cells were reduced in atann3 seedlings. Conclusions AtANN3 may be involved in eATP-regulated seedling growth through regulating auxin transport and accumulation in vegetative organs.