The plant endomembrane system is an extensively connected functional unit for exchanging material between compartments. Secretory and endocytic pathways allow dynamic trafficking of proteins, lipids, and other molecules, regulating a myriad of biological processes. Chemical genetics-the use of compounds to perturb biological processes in a fast, tunable, and transient manner-provides elegant tools for investigating this system. Here, we review how chemical genetics has helped to elucidate different aspects of membrane trafficking. We discuss different strategies for uncovering the modes of action of such compounds and their use in unraveling membrane trafficking regulators. We also discuss how the bioactive chemicals that are currently used as probes to interrogate endomembrane trafficking were discovered and analyze the results regarding membrane trafficking and pathway crosstalk. The integration of different expertises and the rational implementation of chemical genetic strategies will improve the identification of molecular mechanisms that drive intracellular trafficking and our understanding of how trafficking interfaces with plant physiology and development.

中文翻译：

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膜贩运的化学遗传解剖

植物内膜系统是一个广泛连接的功能单元，用于在隔室之间交换材料。分泌和内吞途径允许蛋白质、脂质和其他分子的动态运输，调节无数的生物过程。化学遗传学——使用化合物以快速、可调和瞬态的方式扰乱生物过程——为研究该系统提供了优雅的工具。在这里，我们回顾了化学遗传学如何帮助阐明膜运输的不同方面。我们讨论了揭示此类化合物的作用模式及其在解开膜运输调节剂中的用途的不同策略。我们还讨论了如何发现目前用作探查内膜运输的探针的生物活性化学物质，并分析有关膜运输和通路串扰的结果。不同专业知识的整合和化学遗传策略的合理实施将提高对驱动细胞内运输的分子机制的识别以及我们对运输如何与植物生理学和发育相互作用的理解。