Auxin Response Factors: studying how plant genes are turned on and off
Official title: Auxin Response Factors as a model of transcriptional control
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11359576 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plant biology grant exploring how auxin signals control gene activation through ARF transcription factors to understand growth and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $562,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM136338-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11359576 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients; this is a plant biology research grant.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit expected; study focuses on plants.
What this research studies
This project uses the model plant system to dissect how ARF transcription factors regulate gene activation and repression in response to the hormone auxin. By examining activator and repressor ARFs and their interactions with Aux/IAA proteins and chromatin remodelers, the study aims to map how hormonal signals translate into transcriptional changes. The work combines structural biology, biochemistry, and signaling analyses to reveal the molecular rules governing plant growth responses. The findings could illuminate general principles of hormone-mediated gene control that may inform crop improvement strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how plants control growth in response to hormones could lead to improved crops with desirable traits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that ARF proteins regulate hormone-responsive genes in plants, supporting the plausibility of these mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Strader, Lucia — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Strader, Lucia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.