Molecular basis of brassinosteroid-promoted growth

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The most obvious role of BR is growth promotion. Cell wall loosening, control of water transport, and control of cellulose biosynthesis have been suggested as underlying physiological mechanisms. BR effects on carbon assimilation and allocation, protein synthesis, and provision of precursors for cell wall synthesis may also represent involved mechanisms. However, in spite of a large number of published studies the primary mode of action of BR is still unclear, and the available data do not disclose causal relationships between physiological processes and the relatively well-studied genomic events. The proposal at hand intends an integrated analysis of the bases of BR-promoted growth in Arabidopsis leaves by means of metabolome, transcriptome, morphology, and ultrastructure analyses. Statistical analyses of time course experiments, and comparisons of plants with different endogenous BR levels will allow establishing dose-response relationships and separating primary and secondary BR effects. The experiments have the potential to identify the processes that mediate plant growth.