Epigenetic regulation of auxin homeostasis

Abstract

Epigenetic regulation involves a myriad of mechanisms that regulate the expression of loci without altering the DNA sequence. These different mechanisms primarily result in modifications of the chromatin topology or DNA chemical structure that can be heritable or transient as a dynamic response to environmental cues. The phytohormone auxin plays an important role in almost every aspect of plant life via gradient formation. Auxin maxima/minima result from a complex balance of metabolism, transport, and signaling. Although epigenetic regulation of gene expression during development has been known for decades, the specific mechanisms behind the spatiotemporal dynamics of auxin levels in plants are only just being elucidated. In this review, we gather current knowledge on the epigenetic mechanisms regulating the expression of genes for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) metabolism and transport in Arabidopsis and discuss future perspectives of this emerging field.