Members of the Arabidopsis FORKED1-LIKE gene family act to localize PIN1 in developing veins

The reticulate leaf vein pattern typical of angiosperms is proposed to have been a driving force for their evolutionary success. Vein pattern is established through auxin canalization via the auxin efflux protein PINFORMED1 (PIN1). During formation of vein loops, PIN1 cellular localization is increasingly restricted to either the basal side of cells in the lower domain or to the apical side in the upper domain. We previously identified the gene FORKED1 (FKD1) to be required for PIN1 asymmetric localization and for the formation of closed vein loops. FKD1 encodes a plant-specific protein with a domain of unknown function (DUF828) and a Pleckstrin-like homology domain. The Arabidopsis genome encodes eight similar proteins, which we term the FORKED1-LIKE (FL) gene family. Five FL family members localize primarily to the trans-Golgi network or the Golgi, and several co-localize with FKD1–green flourescent protein (GFP) and RABA1c, suggesting action in the secretory pathway. While single FL gene family mutations do not result in vein pattern defects, triple mutants with mutations in FKD1, FL2, and FL3 result in a more symmetric PIN1 localization and a highly disconnected vein pattern. Our data suggest that FL genes act redundantly with FKD1 in the secretory pathway to establish appropriate PIN1 localization in provascular tissue.