Progestogens and androgens influence root morphology of angiosperms in a brassinosteroid-independent manner

Körber KL, Paul S, Oklestkova J, Barth E, Feistel F, Oppermann H, Oktay C, Dorfner M, Strnad M, Munkert J, Furch AC, Klein J (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Plant Journal Wiley

Book Volume: 123

Article Number: e70459

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70459

Abstract

Progestogens and androgens are steroids found in a wide range of plants, but little is known about their physiological functions. In this study, we sowed seeds of angiosperms on progestogen- and androgen-containing medium and analysed their morphological effects. We further investigated the effects of progesterone and testosterone on brassinosteroid profiles and gene expression in A. thaliana. Additionally, we examined the effects of progesterone and testosterone on A. thaliana plants overexpressing the steroid 5α-reductase DET2. We found that progestogens and androgens have strong negative effects on root length, especially in Brassicaceae species. In addition, these steroids led to uncoordinated cell growth and increased lateral root formation. We failed to detect an effect on endogenous brassinosteroid levels and gene expression of brassinosteroid-regulated genes. The overexpression of DET2 led to increased root growth, but the effects of progesterone and testosterone were not reduced. We conclude that progestogens and androgens act in a brassinosteroid-independent manner. This suggests that progestogens and androgens could represent a potential new class of plant steroid signalling molecules.

Authors with CRIS profile

Maja Dorfner Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie Jennifer Munkert Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie

Involved external institutions

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena DE Germany (DE) University of Copenhagen DK Denmark (DK) Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Max-Planck-Institut für chemische Ökologie / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Körber, K.L., Paul, S., Oklestkova, J., Barth, E., Feistel, F., Oppermann, H.,... Klein, J. (2025). Progestogens and androgens influence root morphology of angiosperms in a brassinosteroid-independent manner. Plant Journal, 123(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70459

MLA:

Körber, Karl Ludwig, et al. "Progestogens and androgens influence root morphology of angiosperms in a brassinosteroid-independent manner." Plant Journal 123.5 (2025).

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