Plant Chemical Biology

Demonstrates how advances in plant chemical biology can translate to field applications

With contributions from a team of leading researchers and pioneers in the field, this book explains how chemical biology is used as a tool to enhance our understanding of plant biology. Readers are introduced to a variety of chemical biology studies that have provided novel insights into plant physiology and plant cellular processes. Moreover, they will discover that chemical biology not only leads to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of plant biology, but also the development of practical applications. For example, the authors discuss small molecules that can be used to identify targets of herbicides and develop new herbicides and plant growth regulators.

The book begins with a historical perspective on plant chemical biology. Next, the authors introduce the chemical biology toolbox needed to perform successful studies, with chapters covering:

• Sources of small molecules
• Identification of new chemical tools by high-throughput screening (HTS)
• Use of chemical biology to study plant physiology
• Use of chemical biology to study plant cellular processes
• Target identification
• Translation of plant chemical biology from the lab to the field

Based on the latest findings and extensively referenced, the book explores available compound collections, principles of assay design, and the use of new research tools for the development of new applications.

Plant Chemical Biology is recommended for students and professionals in all facets of plant biology, including molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, agriculture, horticulture, and agronomy. All readers will discover new approaches that can lead to the development of a healthier and more plentiful global food supply.

Contributors ix

part one Introduction 1

1.1 From Herbal Remedies to Cutting-Edge Science: A Historical Perspective of Plant Chemical Biology 3
Michelle Q. Brown, Abel Rosado, and Natasha V. Raikhel

part Two Sources of small molecules 19

2.1 Compound Collections 21
Reg Richardson

2.2 Combinatorial Chemistry Library Design 40
Robert Klein and Stephen D. Lindell

2.3 Natural Product-Based Libraries 64
Alan L. Harvey

part three Identification of new chemical tools by High-Throughput Screening 73

3.1 Assay Design for High-Throughput Screening 75
Frank W. An and Jose R. Perez

part four Use of chemical biology to study plant physiology 93

4.1 Use of Chemical Biology to Understand Auxin Metabolism, Signaling, and Polar Transport 95
Ken-ichiro Hayashi and Paul Overvoorde

4.2 Brassinosteroids Signaling and Biosynthesis 128
Takeshi Nakano and Tadao Asami

4.3 Chemical Genetic Approaches on ABA Signal Transduction 145
Eunjoo Park and Tae-Houn Kim

4.4 Jasmonic Acid 160
Christian Meesters and Erich Kombrink

4.5 Chemical Genetics as a Tool to Study Ethylene Biology in Plants 184
Yuming Hu, Filip Vandenbussche, and Dominique Van Der Straeten

part five Use of chemical biology to study plant cellular processes 203

5.1 The Use of Small Molecules to Dissect Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Manipulate the Cortical Cytoskeleton 205
Darby Harris and Seth DeBolt

5.2 The Use of Chemical Biology to Study Plant Cellular Processes: Subcellular Trafficking 218
Ash Haeger, Malgorzata £angowska, and Stéphanie Robert

part six Target identification 233

6.1 Target Identification of Biologically Active Small Molecules 235
Paul Overvoorde and Dominique Audenaert

part seven Translation of plant chemical biology from the lab to the field 247

7.1 Prospects and Challenges for Translating Emerging Insights in Plant Chemical Biology into New Agrochemicals 249
Terence A. Walsh

7.2 In Vitro Propagation 263
Hans Motte, Stefaan Werbrouck, and Danny Geelen

Index 289

DOMINIQUE AUDENAERT, PhD, works in the VIB Compound Screening Facility at Ghent University. His research expertise includes assay development, compound screening, and chemical biology research.

PAUL OVERVOORDE, PhD, executes his research and teaching activities at Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), where he is a professor of biology. He has a longstanding interest in defining the role of auxin-mediated gene expression during plant development.