2P1N | pdb_00002p1n

Mechanism of auxin perception by the TIR1 ubiquitin ligase

(2007) Nature 446: 640-645

• PubMed: 17410169 Search on PubMed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05731
• Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
  2P1M, 2P1N, 2P1O, 2P1P, 2P1Q


• PubMed Abstract: 
  

  Auxin is a pivotal plant hormone that controls many aspects of plant growth and development. Perceived by a small family of F-box proteins including transport inhibitor response 1 (TIR1), auxin regulates gene expression by promoting SCF ubiquitin-ligase-catalysed degradation of the Aux/IAA transcription repressors, but how the TIR1 F-box protein senses and becomes activated by auxin remains unclear. Here we present the crystal structures of the Arabidopsis TIR1-ASK1 complex, free and in complexes with three different auxin compounds and an Aux/IAA substrate peptide. These structures show that the leucine-rich repeat domain of TIR1 contains an unexpected inositol hexakisphosphate co-factor and recognizes auxin and the Aux/IAA polypeptide substrate through a single surface pocket. Anchored to the base of the TIR1 pocket, auxin binds to a partially promiscuous site, which can also accommodate various auxin analogues. Docked on top of auxin, the Aux/IAA substrate peptide occupies the rest of the TIR1 pocket and completely encloses the hormone-binding site. By filling in a hydrophobic cavity at the protein interface, auxin enhances the TIR1-substrate interactions by acting as a 'molecular glue'. Our results establish the first structural model of a plant hormone receptor.

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Organizational Affiliation: 

Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Box 357280, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.