@article{10123,
  abstract     = {Solution synthesis of particles emerged as an alternative to prepare thermoelectric materials with less demanding processing conditions than conventional solid-state synthetic methods. However, solution synthesis generally involves the presence of additional molecules or ions belonging to the precursors or added to enable solubility and/or regulate nucleation and growth. These molecules or ions can end up in the particles as surface adsorbates and interfere in the material properties. This work demonstrates that ionic adsorbates, in particular Na⁺ ions, are electrostatically adsorbed in SnSe particles synthesized in water and play a crucial role not only in directing the material nano/microstructure but also in determining the transport properties of the consolidated material. In dense pellets prepared by sintering SnSe particles, Na remains within the crystal lattice as dopant, in dislocations, precipitates, and forming grain boundary complexions. These results highlight the importance of considering all the possible unintentional impurities to establish proper structure-property relationships and control material properties in solution-processed thermoelectric materials.},
  author       = {Liu, Yu and Calcabrini, Mariano and Yu, Yuan and Genç, Aziz and Chang, Cheng and Costanzo, Tommaso and Kleinhanns, Tobias and Lee, Seungho and Llorca, Jordi and Cojocaru‐Mirédin, Oana and Ibáñez, Maria},
  issn         = {1521-4095},
  journal      = {Advanced Materials},
  keywords     = {mechanical engineering, mechanics of materials, general materials science},
  number       = {52},
  publisher    = {Wiley},
  title        = {{The importance of surface adsorbates in solution‐processed thermoelectric materials: The case of SnSe}},
  doi          = {10.1002/adma.202106858},
  volume       = {33},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{10607,
  abstract     = {The evidence linking innate immunity mechanisms and neurodegenerative diseases is growing, but the specific mechanisms are incompletely understood. Experimental data suggest that microglial TLR4 mediates the uptake and clearance of α-synuclein also termed synucleinophagy. The accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein throughout the brain is central to Parkinson's disease (PD). The distribution and progression of the pathology is often attributed to the propagation of α-synuclein. Here, we apply a classical α-synuclein propagation model of prodromal PD in wild type and TLR4 deficient mice to study the role of TLR4 in the progression of the disease. Our data suggest that TLR4 deficiency facilitates the α-synuclein seed spreading associated with reduced lysosomal activity of microglia. Three months after seed inoculation, more pronounced proteinase K-resistant α-synuclein inclusion pathology is observed in mice with TLR4 deficiency. The facilitated propagation of α-synuclein is associated with early loss of dopamine transporter (DAT) signal in the striatum and loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta of TLR4 deficient mice. These new results support TLR4 signaling as a putative target for disease modification to slow the progression of PD and related disorders.},
  author       = {Venezia, Serena and Kaufmann, Walter and Wenning, Gregor K. and Stefanova, Nadia},
  issn         = {1873-5126},
  journal      = {Parkinsonism & Related Disorders},
  pages        = {59--65},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Toll-like receptor 4 deficiency facilitates α-synuclein propagation and neurodegeneration in a mouse model of prodromal Parkinson's disease}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.09.007},
  volume       = {91},
  year         = {2021},
}

@inbook{9756,
  abstract     = {High-resolution visualization and quantification of membrane proteins contribute to the understanding of their functions and the roles they play in physiological and pathological conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-digested freeze-fracture replica labeling (SDS-FRL) is a powerful electron microscopy method to study quantitatively the two-dimensional distribution of transmembrane proteins and their tightly associated proteins. During treatment with SDS, intracellular organelles and proteins not anchored to the replica are dissolved, whereas integral membrane proteins captured and stabilized by carbon/platinum deposition remain on the replica. Their intra- and extracellular domains become exposed on the surface of the replica, facilitating the accessibility of antibodies and, therefore, providing higher labeling efficiency than those obtained with other immunoelectron microscopy techniques. In this chapter, we describe the protocols of SDS-FRL adapted for mammalian brain samples, and optimization of the SDS treatment to increase the labeling efficiency for quantification of Cav2.1, the alpha subunit of P/Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channels utilizing deep learning algorithms.},
  author       = {Kaufmann, Walter and Kleindienst, David and Harada, Harumi and Shigemoto, Ryuichi},
  booktitle    = { Receptor and Ion Channel Detection in the Brain},
  isbn         = {9781071615218},
  keywords     = {Freeze-fracture replica: Deep learning, Immunogold labeling, Integral membrane protein, Electron microscopy},
  pages        = {267--283},
  publisher    = {Humana},
  title        = {{High-Resolution localization and quantitation of membrane proteins by SDS-digested freeze-fracture replica labeling (SDS-FRL)}},
  doi          = {10.1007/978-1-0716-1522-5_19},
  volume       = {169},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{9887,
  abstract     = {Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is the major route of entry of cargos into cells and thus underpins many physiological processes. During endocytosis, an area of flat membrane is remodeled by proteins to create a spherical vesicle against intracellular forces. The protein machinery which mediates this membrane bending in plants is unknown. However, it is known that plant endocytosis is actin independent, thus indicating that plants utilize a unique mechanism to mediate membrane bending against high-turgor pressure compared to other model systems. Here, we investigate the TPLATE complex, a plant-specific endocytosis protein complex. It has been thought to function as a classical adaptor functioning underneath the clathrin coat. However, by using biochemical and advanced live microscopy approaches, we found that TPLATE is peripherally associated with clathrin-coated vesicles and localizes at the rim of endocytosis events. As this localization is more fitting to the protein machinery involved in membrane bending during endocytosis, we examined cells in which the TPLATE complex was disrupted and found that the clathrin structures present as flat patches. This suggests a requirement of the TPLATE complex for membrane bending during plant clathrin–mediated endocytosis. Next, we used in vitro biophysical assays to confirm that the TPLATE complex possesses protein domains with intrinsic membrane remodeling activity. These results redefine the role of the TPLATE complex and implicate it as a key component of the evolutionarily distinct plant endocytosis mechanism, which mediates endocytic membrane bending against the high-turgor pressure in plant cells.},
  author       = {Johnson, Alexander J and Dahhan, Dana A and Gnyliukh, Nataliia and Kaufmann, Walter and Zheden, Vanessa and Costanzo, Tommaso and Mahou, Pierre and Hrtyan, Mónika and Wang, Jie and Aguilera Servin, Juan L and van Damme, Daniël and Beaurepaire, Emmanuel and Loose, Martin and Bednarek, Sebastian Y and Friml, Jiří},
  issn         = {1091-6490},
  journal      = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
  number       = {51},
  publisher    = {National Academy of Sciences},
  title        = {{The TPLATE complex mediates membrane bending during plant clathrin-mediated endocytosis}},
  doi          = {10.1073/pnas.2113046118},
  volume       = {118},
  year         = {2021},
}

@article{8139,
  abstract     = {Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a crucial cellular process implicated in many aspects of plant growth, development, intra- and inter-cellular signaling, nutrient uptake and pathogen defense. Despite these significant roles, little is known about the precise molecular details of how it functions in planta. In order to facilitate the direct quantitative study of plant CME, here we review current routinely used methods and present refined, standardized quantitative imaging protocols which allow the detailed characterization of CME at multiple scales in plant tissues. These include: (i) an efficient electron microscopy protocol for the imaging of Arabidopsis CME vesicles in situ, thus providing a method for the detailed characterization of the ultra-structure of clathrin-coated vesicles; (ii) a detailed protocol and analysis for quantitative live-cell fluorescence microscopy to precisely examine the temporal interplay of endocytosis components during single CME events; (iii) a semi-automated analysis to allow the quantitative characterization of global internalization of cargos in whole plant tissues; and (iv) an overview and validation of useful genetic and pharmacological tools to interrogate the molecular mechanisms and function of CME in intact plant samples.},
  author       = {Johnson, Alexander J and Gnyliukh, Nataliia and Kaufmann, Walter and Narasimhan, Madhumitha and Vert, G and Bednarek, SY and Friml, Jiří},
  issn         = {1477-9137},
  journal      = {Journal of Cell Science},
  number       = {15},
  publisher    = {The Company of Biologists},
  title        = {{Experimental toolbox for quantitative evaluation of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the plant model Arabidopsis}},
  doi          = {10.1242/jcs.248062},
  volume       = {133},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{8744,
  abstract     = {Understanding the conformational sampling of translation-arrested ribosome nascent chain complexes is key to understand co-translational folding. Up to now, coupling of cysteine oxidation, disulfide bond formation and structure formation in nascent chains has remained elusive. Here, we investigate the eye-lens protein γB-crystallin in the ribosomal exit tunnel. Using mass spectrometry, theoretical simulations, dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and cryo-electron microscopy, we show that thiol groups of cysteine residues undergo S-glutathionylation and S-nitrosylation and form non-native disulfide bonds. Thus, covalent modification chemistry occurs already prior to nascent chain release as the ribosome exit tunnel provides sufficient space even for disulfide bond formation which can guide protein folding.},
  author       = {Schulte, Linda and Mao, Jiafei and Reitz, Julian and Sreeramulu, Sridhar and Kudlinzki, Denis and Hodirnau, Victor-Valentin and Meier-Credo, Jakob and Saxena, Krishna and Buhr, Florian and Langer, Julian D. and Blackledge, Martin and Frangakis, Achilleas S. and Glaubitz, Clemens and Schwalbe, Harald},
  issn         = {2041-1723},
  journal      = {Nature Communications},
  keywords     = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Cysteine oxidation and disulfide formation in the ribosomal exit tunnel}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41467-020-19372-x},
  volume       = {11},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{8787,
  abstract     = {Breakdown of vascular barriers is a major complication of inflammatory diseases. Anucleate platelets form blood-clots during thrombosis, but also play a crucial role in inflammation. While spatio-temporal dynamics of clot formation are well characterized, the cell-biological mechanisms of platelet recruitment to inflammatory micro-environments remain incompletely understood. Here we identify Arp2/3-dependent lamellipodia formation as a prominent morphological feature of immune-responsive platelets. Platelets use lamellipodia to scan for fibrin(ogen) deposited on the inflamed vasculature and to directionally spread, to polarize and to govern haptotactic migration along gradients of the adhesive ligand. Platelet-specific abrogation of Arp2/3 interferes with haptotactic repositioning of platelets to microlesions, thus impairing vascular sealing and provoking inflammatory microbleeding. During infection, haptotaxis promotes capture of bacteria and prevents hematogenic dissemination, rendering platelets gate-keepers of the inflamed microvasculature. Consequently, these findings identify haptotaxis as a key effector function of immune-responsive platelets.},
  author       = {Nicolai, Leo and Schiefelbein, Karin and Lipsky, Silvia and Leunig, Alexander and Hoffknecht, Marie and Pekayvaz, Kami and Raude, Ben and Marx, Charlotte and Ehrlich, Andreas and Pircher, Joachim and Zhang, Zhe and Saleh, Inas and Marel, Anna-Kristina and Löf, Achim and Petzold, Tobias and Lorenz, Michael and Stark, Konstantin and Pick, Robert and Rosenberger, Gerhild and Weckbach, Ludwig and Uhl, Bernd and Xia, Sheng and Reichel, Christoph Andreas and Walzog, Barbara and Schulz, Christian and Zheden, Vanessa and Bender, Markus and Li, Rong and Massberg, Steffen and Gärtner, Florian R},
  issn         = {20411723},
  journal      = {Nature Communications},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Vascular surveillance by haptotactic blood platelets in inflammation and infection}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41467-020-19515-0},
  volume       = {11},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{8971,
  abstract     = {The actin-related protein (Arp)2/3 complex nucleates branched actin filament networks pivotal for cell migration, endocytosis and pathogen infection. Its activation is tightly regulated and involves complex structural rearrangements and actin filament binding, which are yet to be understood. Here, we report a 9.0 Å resolution structure of the actin filament Arp2/3 complex branch junction in cells using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging. This allows us to generate an accurate model of the active Arp2/3 complex in the branch junction and its interaction with actin filaments. Notably, our model reveals a previously undescribed set of interactions of the Arp2/3 complex with the mother filament, significantly different to the previous branch junction model. Our structure also indicates a central role for the ArpC3 subunit in stabilizing the active conformation.},
  author       = {Fäßler, Florian and Dimchev, Georgi A and Hodirnau, Victor-Valentin and Wan, William and Schur, Florian KM},
  issn         = {2041-1723},
  journal      = {Nature Communications},
  keywords     = {General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Physics and Astronomy, General Chemistry},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Cryo-electron tomography structure of Arp2/3 complex in cells reveals new insights into the branch junction}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41467-020-20286-x},
  volume       = {11},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{7490,
  abstract     = {In plants, clathrin mediated endocytosis (CME) represents the major route for cargo internalisation from the cell surface. It has been assumed to operate in an evolutionary conserved manner as in yeast and animals. Here we report characterisation of ultrastructure, dynamics and mechanisms of plant CME as allowed by our advancement in electron microscopy and quantitative live imaging techniques. Arabidopsis CME appears to follow the constant curvature model and the bona fide CME population generates vesicles of a predominantly hexagonal-basket type; larger and with faster kinetics than in other models. Contrary to the existing paradigm, actin is dispensable for CME events at the plasma membrane but plays a unique role in collecting endocytic vesicles, sorting of internalised cargos and directional endosome movement that itself actively promote CME events. Internalized vesicles display a strongly delayed and sequential uncoating. These unique features highlight the independent evolution of the plant CME mechanism during the autonomous rise of multicellularity in eukaryotes.},
  author       = {Narasimhan, Madhumitha and Johnson, Alexander J and Prizak, Roshan and Kaufmann, Walter and Tan, Shutang and Casillas Perez, Barbara E and Friml, Jiří},
  issn         = {2050-084X},
  journal      = {eLife},
  publisher    = {eLife Sciences Publications},
  title        = {{Evolutionarily unique mechanistic framework of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plants}},
  doi          = {10.7554/eLife.52067},
  volume       = {9},
  year         = {2020},
}

@unpublished{9750,
  abstract     = {Tension of the actomyosin cell cortex plays a key role in determining cell-cell contact growth and size. The level of cortical tension outside of the cell-cell contact, when pulling at the contact edge, scales with the total size to which a cell-cell contact can grow1,2. Here we show in zebrafish primary germ layer progenitor cells that this monotonic relationship only applies to a narrow range of cortical tension increase, and that above a critical threshold, contact size inversely scales with cortical tension. This switch from cortical tension increasing to decreasing progenitor cell-cell contact size is caused by cortical tension promoting E-cadherin anchoring to the actomyosin cytoskeleton, thereby increasing clustering and stability of E-cadherin at the contact. Once tension-mediated E-cadherin stabilization at the contact exceeds a critical threshold level, the rate by which the contact expands in response to pulling forces from the cortex sharply drops, leading to smaller contacts at physiologically relevant timescales of contact formation. Thus, the activity of cortical tension in expanding cell-cell contact size is limited by tension stabilizing E-cadherin-actin complexes at the contact.},
  author       = {Slovakova, Jana and Sikora, Mateusz K and Caballero Mancebo, Silvia and Krens, Gabriel and Kaufmann, Walter and Huljev, Karla and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J},
  booktitle    = {bioRxiv},
  pages        = {41},
  publisher    = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory},
  title        = {{Tension-dependent stabilization of E-cadherin limits cell-cell contact expansion}},
  doi          = {10.1101/2020.11.20.391284},
  year         = {2020},
}

@article{6087,
  abstract     = {Cell fate specification by lateral inhibition typically involves contact signaling through the Delta-Notch signaling pathway. However, whether this is the only signaling mode mediating lateral inhibition remains unclear. Here we show that in zebrafish oogenesis, a group of cells within the granulosa cell layer at the oocyte animal pole acquire elevated levels of the transcriptional coactivator TAZ in their nuclei. One of these cells, the future micropyle precursor cell (MPC), accumulates increasingly high levels of nuclear TAZ and grows faster than its surrounding cells, mechanically compressing those cells, which ultimately lose TAZ from their nuclei. Strikingly, relieving neighbor-cell compression by MPC ablation or aspiration restores nuclear TAZ accumulation in neighboring cells, eventually leading to MPC re-specification from these cells. Conversely, MPC specification is defective in taz−/− follicles. These findings uncover a novel mode of lateral inhibition in cell fate specification based on mechanical signals controlling TAZ activity.},
  author       = {Xia, Peng and Gütl, Daniel J and Zheden, Vanessa and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J},
  journal      = {Cell},
  number       = {6},
  pages        = {1379--1392.e14},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Lateral inhibition in cell specification mediated by mechanical signals modulating TAZ activity}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.cell.2019.01.019},
  volume       = {176},
  year         = {2019},
}

@article{308,
  abstract     = {Migrating cells penetrate tissue barriers during development, inflammatory responses, and tumor metastasis. We study if migration in vivo in such three-dimensionally confined environments requires changes in the mechanical properties of the surrounding cells using embryonic Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes, also called macrophages, as a model. We find that macrophage invasion into the germband through transient separation of the apposing ectoderm and mesoderm requires cell deformations and reductions in apical tension in the ectoderm. Interestingly, the genetic pathway governing these mechanical shifts acts downstream of the only known tumor necrosis factor superfamily member in Drosophila, Eiger, and its receptor, Grindelwald. Eiger-Grindelwald signaling reduces levels of active Myosin in the germband ectodermal cortex through the localization of a Crumbs complex component, Patj (Pals-1-associated tight junction protein). We therefore elucidate a distinct molecular pathway that controls tissue tension and demonstrate the importance of such regulation for invasive migration in vivo.},
  author       = {Ratheesh, Aparna and Biebl, Julia and Smutny, Michael and Veselá, Jana and Papusheva, Ekaterina and Krens, Gabriel and Kaufmann, Walter and György, Attila and Casano, Alessandra M and Siekhaus, Daria E},
  journal      = {Developmental Cell},
  number       = {3},
  pages        = {331 -- 346},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Drosophila TNF modulates tissue tension in the embryo to facilitate macrophage invasive migration}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.devcel.2018.04.002},
  volume       = {45},
  year         = {2018},
}

@article{163,
  abstract     = {For ultrafast fixation of biological samples to avoid artifacts, high-pressure freezing (HPF) followed by freeze substitution (FS) is preferred over chemical fixation at room temperature. After HPF, samples are maintained at low temperature during dehydration and fixation, while avoiding damaging recrystallization. This is a notoriously slow process. McDonald and Webb demonstrated, in 2011, that sample agitation during FS dramatically reduces the necessary time. Then, in 2015, we (H.G. and S.R.) introduced an agitation module into the cryochamber of an automated FS unit and demonstrated that the preparation of algae could be shortened from days to a couple of hours. We argued that variability in the processing, reproducibility, and safety issues are better addressed using automated FS units. For dissemination, we started low-cost manufacturing of agitation modules for two of the most widely used FS units, the Automatic Freeze Substitution Systems, AFS(1) and AFS2, from Leica Microsystems, using three dimensional (3D)-printing of the major components. To test them, several labs independently used the modules on a wide variety of specimens that had previously been processed by manual agitation, or without agitation. We demonstrate that automated processing with sample agitation saves time, increases flexibility with respect to sample requirements and protocols, and produces data of at least as good quality as other approaches.},
  author       = {Reipert, Siegfried and Goldammer, Helmuth and Richardson, Christine and Goldberg, Martin and Hawkins, Timothy and Hollergschwandtner, Elena and Kaufmann, Walter and Antreich, Sebastian and Stierhof, York},
  issn         = {0022-1554},
  journal      = {Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry},
  number       = {12},
  pages        = {903--921},
  publisher    = {SAGE Publications},
  title        = {{Agitation modules: Flexible means to accelerate automated freeze substitution}},
  doi          = {10.1369/0022155418786698},
  volume       = {66},
  year         = {2018},
}

@article{672,
  abstract     = {Trafficking cells frequently transmigrate through epithelial and endothelial monolayers. How monolayers cooperate with the penetrating cells to support their transit is poorly understood. We studied dendritic cell (DC) entry into lymphatic capillaries as a model system for transendothelial migration. We find that the chemokine CCL21, which is the decisive guidance cue for intravasation, mainly localizes in the trans-Golgi network and intracellular vesicles of lymphatic endothelial cells. Upon DC transmigration, these Golgi deposits disperse and CCL21 becomes extracellularly enriched at the sites of endothelial cell-cell junctions. When we reconstitute the transmigration process in vitro, we find that secretion of CCL21-positive vesicles is triggered by a DC contact-induced calcium signal, and selective calcium chelation in lymphatic endothelium attenuates transmigration. Altogether, our data demonstrate a chemokine-mediated feedback between DCs and lymphatic endothelium, which facilitates transendothelial migration.},
  author       = {Vaahtomeri, Kari and Brown, Markus and Hauschild, Robert and De Vries, Ingrid and Leithner, Alexander F and Mehling, Matthias and Kaufmann, Walter and Sixt, Michael K},
  issn         = {22111247},
  journal      = {Cell Reports},
  number       = {5},
  pages        = {902 -- 909},
  publisher    = {Cell Press},
  title        = {{Locally triggered release of the chemokine CCL21 promotes dendritic cell transmigration across lymphatic endothelia}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.celrep.2017.04.027},
  volume       = {19},
  year         = {2017},
}

@article{693,
  abstract     = {Many central synapses contain a single presynaptic active zone and a single postsynaptic density. Vesicular release statistics at such “simple synapses” indicate that they contain a small complement of docking sites where vesicles repetitively dock and fuse. In this work, we investigate functional and morphological aspects of docking sites at simple synapses made between cerebellar parallel fibers and molecular layer interneurons. Using immunogold labeling of SDS-treated freeze-fracture replicas, we find that Cav2.1 channels form several clusters per active zone with about nine channels per cluster. The mean value and range of intersynaptic variation are similar for Cav2.1 cluster numbers and for functional estimates of docking-site numbers obtained from the maximum numbers of released vesicles per action potential. Both numbers grow in relation with synaptic size and decrease by a similar extent with age between 2 wk and 4 wk postnatal. Thus, the mean docking-site numbers were 3.15 at 2 wk (range: 1–10) and 2.03 at 4 wk (range: 1–4), whereas the mean numbers of Cav2.1 clusters were 2.84 at 2 wk (range: 1–8) and 2.37 at 4 wk (range: 1–5). These changes were accompanied by decreases of miniature current amplitude (from 93 pA to 56 pA), active-zone surface area (from 0.0427 μm2 to 0.0234 μm2), and initial success rate (from 0.609 to 0.353), indicating a tightening of synaptic transmission with development. Altogether, these results suggest a close correspondence between the number of functionally defined vesicular docking sites and that of clusters of voltage-gated calcium channels. },
  author       = {Miki, Takafumi and Kaufmann, Walter and Malagon, Gerardo and Gomez, Laura and Tabuchi, Katsuhiko and Watanabe, Masahiko and Shigemoto, Ryuichi and Marty, Alain},
  issn         = {00278424},
  journal      = {PNAS},
  number       = {26},
  pages        = {E5246 -- E5255},
  publisher    = {National Academy of Sciences},
  title        = {{Numbers of presynaptic Ca2+ channel clusters match those of functionally defined vesicular docking sites in single central synapses}},
  doi          = {10.1073/pnas.1704470114},
  volume       = {114},
  year         = {2017},
}

@article{1562,
  abstract     = {The plant hormone auxin is a key regulator of plant growth and development. Auxin levels are sensed and interpreted by distinct receptor systems that activate a broad range of cellular responses. The Auxin-Binding Protein1 (ABP1) that has been identified based on its ability to bind auxin with high affinity is a prime candidate for the extracellular receptor responsible for mediating a range of auxin effects, in particular, the fast non-transcriptional ones. Contradictory genetic studies suggested prominent or no importance of ABP1 in many developmental processes. However, how crucial the role of auxin binding to ABP1 is for its functions has not been addressed. Here, we show that the auxin-binding pocket of ABP1 is essential for its gain-of-function cellular and developmental roles. In total, 16 different abp1 mutants were prepared that possessed substitutions in the metal core or in the hydrophobic amino acids of the auxin-binding pocket as well as neutral mutations. Their analysis revealed that an intact auxin-binding pocket is a prerequisite for ABP1 to activate downstream components of the ABP1 signalling pathway, such as Rho of Plants (ROPs) and to mediate the clathrin association with membranes for endocytosis regulation. In planta analyses demonstrated the importance of the auxin binding pocket for all known ABP1-mediated postembryonic developmental processes, including morphology of leaf epidermal cells, root growth and root meristem activity, and vascular tissue differentiation. Taken together, these findings suggest that auxin binding to ABP1 is central to its function, supporting the role of ABP1 as auxin receptor.},
  author       = {Grones, Peter and Chen, Xu and Simon, Sibu and Kaufmann, Walter and De Rycke, Riet and Nodzyński, Tomasz and Zažímalová, Eva and Friml, Jirí},
  journal      = {Journal of Experimental Botany},
  number       = {16},
  pages        = {5055 -- 5065},
  publisher    = {Oxford University Press},
  title        = {{Auxin-binding pocket of ABP1 is crucial for its gain-of-function cellular and developmental roles}},
  doi          = {10.1093/jxb/erv177},
  volume       = {66},
  year         = {2015},
}

