Cell polarity signaling in Arabidopsis involves a BFA-sensitive auxin influx pathway

Coordination of cell and tissue polarity commonly involves directional signaling [I]. In the Arabidopsis root epidermis, cell polarity is revealed by basal, root tip-oriented, hair outgrowth from hair-forming cells (trichoblasts) [2]. The plant hormone auxin displays polar movements [1, 3) and accumulates at maximum concentration in the root tip [4, 5]. The application of polar auxin transport inhibitors [3] evokes changes in trichoblast polarity only at high concentrations and after long-term application [2, 4]. Thus, it remains open whether components of the auxin transport machinery mediate establishment of trichoblast polarity. Here we report that the presumptive auxin influx carrier AUX1 [6, 7] contributes to apical-basal hair cell polarity. AUX1 function is required for polarity changes induced by exogenous application of the auxin 2,4-D, a preferential influx carrier substrate. Similar to aux1 mutants, the vesicle trafficking inhibitor brefeldin A (BFA) interferes with polar hair initiation, and AUX1 function is required for BFA-mediated polarity changes. Consistently, BFA inhibits membrane trafficking of AUX1, trichoblast hyperpolarization induced by 2,4-D, and alters the distal auxin maximum. Our results identify AUX1 as one component of a novel BFA-sensitive auxin transport pathway polarizing cells toward a hormone maximum.