Xuan Wei, Murphy Evan, Beeckman Tom, Audenaert Dominique, De Smet Ive
Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium ; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Genetics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK.
J Chem Biol. 2013 Mar 3;6(2):43-50. doi: 10.1007/s12154-013-0091-8.
The application of small molecules has played a crucial role in identifying novel components involved in plant signalling. Compared to classic genetic approaches, small molecule screens offer notable advantages in dissecting plant biological processes, such as technical simplicity, low start-up costs, and most importantly, bypassing the problems of lethality and redundancy. To identify small molecules that target a biological process or protein of interest, robust and well-reasoned high-throughput screening approaches are essential. In this review, we present a series of principles and valuable approaches in small molecule screening in the plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana. We also provide an overview of small molecules that led to breakthroughs in uncovering phytohormone signalling pathways, endomembrane signalling cascades, novel growth regulators, and plant defence mechanisms. Meanwhile, the strategies to deciphering the mechanisms of these small molecules on Arabidopsis are highlighted. Moreover, the opportunities and challenges of small molecule applications in translational biology are discussed.
小分子的应用在鉴定参与植物信号传导的新成分方面发挥了关键作用。与经典的遗传学方法相比，小分子筛选在剖析植物生物学过程中具有显著优势，如技术简单、启动成本低，最重要的是，绕过了致死性和冗余性问题。为了鉴定靶向感兴趣的生物学过程或蛋白质的小分子，强大且合理的高通量筛选方法至关重要。在本综述中，我们介绍了在植物模式系统拟南芥中进行小分子筛选的一系列原则和有价值的方法。我们还概述了在揭示植物激素信号通路、内膜信号级联、新型生长调节剂和植物防御机制方面取得突破的小分子。同时，强调了解析这些小分子对拟南芥作用机制的策略。此外，还讨论了小分子在转化生物学应用中的机遇和挑战。
