ON THE COVER: The Aux/IAA and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription regulator families mediate auxin-responsive gene expression. Gain-of-function mutations in the conserved domain II of the Aux/IAA proteins, repressors of auxin-mediated transcription, cause auxin-related phenotypes. In this issue, Uehara et al. (pp. 1025–1038) demonstrate that domain II mutations in IAA18 suppress lateral root formation and affect shoot morphology including hypocotyl elongation and leaf growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. The authors conclude that IAA18 is a negative regulator of lateral root formation and is involved in the regulation of shoot development. Gain-of-function mutants of IAA18 were named crane because the mutant shoots look like an origami crane, which is a Japanese traditional paper craft. The cover photograph shows an origami crane.
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