Naphthaleneacetic acid
ID: naphthaleneacetic-acid
In auxin experiments, naphthaleneacetic acid usually denotes the synthetic plant hormone analogue
1-NAA. It can enter plant cells without the same dependence on an auxin influx carrier as indole-3-acetic acid. That difference makes it a useful experimental probe of membrane transport, rather than simply another interchangeable way to apply auxin.[ref]Localization of the auxin permease AUX1 suggests two functionally distinct hormone transport pathways operate in the Arabidopsis root apex by Ranjan Swarup and others. Results and Fig. 3, membrane-permeable 1-NAA bypassing the aux1 uptake defect
In a 2001 study of Arabidopsis thaliana, a mutant affecting AUX1 showed defective root gravitropism. Treatment with
1-NAA restored the response, while the comparison auxin treatment in the same figure did not. The authors also examined a reporter of auxin-responsive expression.[ref]Localization of the auxin permease AUX1 suggests two functionally distinct hormone transport pathways operate in the Arabidopsis root apex by Ranjan Swarup and others. Fig. 3, aux1-100 roots and reporter patterns under matched 1-NAA and 2,4D treatments
The illuminating feature is the bypass: changing how a signal enters a biological cell can restore a response despite a transport defect. Chemical identity, delivery and measured response must be distinguished when interpreting polar auxin transport.
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