Transcriptional controls of auxin-induced root hair proliferation via an ARF19-ZFP2 gene regulatory module

We have used computational modeling, transcriptomic analysis, and mutant screening to uncover a gene regulatory network (GRN) downstream of the plant hormone auxin driving root hair development. We found that Auxin Response Factor 19 (ARF19) modulates root hair development via Zinc Finger Protein 2 (ZFP2) transcription factor (TF). Mutants in ARF19 and ZFP2 had increased root hair proliferation in the presence of higher IAA doses compared to the wild type, suggesting their involvement in the same GRN. We also reveal overlapping and unique GRNs controlled by these TFs in Arabidopsis roots using transcriptomic analysis of auxin-treated mutants and wild type.