Cytokinin articles from across Nature Portfolio

Xu et al. report structures of the Arabidopsis cytokinin importer AZG1 in the apo, trans-zeatin-bound, 6-benzyleaminopurine-bound and kinetin-bound states, and elucidate an elevator transport model for the AZG1-mediated cytokinin uptake.

C-terminally encoded peptide (CEP) and cytokinin (CK) hormones modulate plant root architecture in response to environmental cues. The results show that CEP and CK pathways utilise CEPD glutaredoxins in separate organs to curb primary root growth.

The study describes the development and validation of Multi-Knock, a genome-scale clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat toolbox that overcomes functional redundancy in plants by simultaneously targeting multiple gene-family members, thus identifying genetically hidden components.

Cytokinin influences various aspects of plant growth and development, including vascular development. The TMO5/LHW complex regulates a precise balance of cytokinin in xylem and procambium, therefore organizing root vascular patterning in Arabidopsis.

Nodule development in legumes is a cytokinin dependent process. Here the authors show that high nitrate supply, which limits nodulation, suppresses cytokinin biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus which contrasts with the positive effect of nitrate on cytokinin biosynthesis in non-legumes

A genetic approach that combines forward genetics with dynamically targeted genome-scale CRISPR–Cas9 tools has been developed to unmask phenotypic variation in Arabidopsis thaliana that is otherwise hidden by functional redundancy. This approach, called Multi-Knock, should be readily deployable by scientists and breeders for basic research and to expedite breeding efforts.