Agr, an Agravitropic Locus of Arabidopsis Thaliana, Encodes a Novel Membrane-protein Family Member

Mutations in the Agr locus of Arabidopsis thaliana impair the root gravitropic response. Root growth of agr mutants is moderately resistant to ethylene and to an auxin transport inhibitor. Vertically placed agr roots grow into agar medium containing IAA or naphthalene-1-acetic acid, but not into medium containing 2,4-D. Positional cloning showed that AGR encodes a root-specific member of a novel membrane-protein family with limited homology to bacterial transporters.