Arabidopsis response to the apocarotenoid zaxinone involves interference with strigolactone signaling via binding to DWARF14

Juan C. Moreno, Umar F. Shahul Hameed, Aparna Balakrishna, Abdugaffor Ablazov, Kit Xi Liew, Muhammad Jamil, Jianing Mi, Kawthar Alashoor, Alexandre de Saint Germain, Stefan T. Arold () and Salim Al-Babili ()
Additional contact information
Juan C. Moreno: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Umar F. Shahul Hameed: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division
Aparna Balakrishna: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Abdugaffor Ablazov: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Kit Xi Liew: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Muhammad Jamil: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Jianing Mi: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Kawthar Alashoor: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture
Alexandre de Saint Germain: Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech
Stefan T. Arold: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division
Salim Al-Babili: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, The Bioactives Laboratory, Center for Desert Agriculture

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The natural growth regulator zaxinone increases the levels of the phytohormones strigolactone (SL) and abscisic acid in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) via unknown mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that part of the effect of zaxinone in Arabidopsis depend on the SL receptor DWARF14 (AtD14) and the F-Box protein MORE AXILLARY BRANCHING2 (AtMAX2) that mediate the signaling of SLs and karrikins. Binding assays and co-crystallization reveal zaxinone as an additional ligand of AtD14 and an SL antagonist that interrupts the interaction of AtD14 with AtMAX2. Zaxinone also binds to the karrikin receptor KARRIKIN INSENSITIVE2 (AtKAI2). These findings unveil a perception mechanism for zaxinone in Arabidopsis and demonstrate the capability of AtD14 to bind signaling molecules, other than strigolactones and mediate their transduction.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63845-w

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