The emerging role of auxins as bacterial signal molecules: Potential biotechnological applications Krell, Tino Gavira Gallardo, José Antonio Roca Hernández, Amalia de la Arrixac Matilla Vázquez, Miguel Ángel This study was supported through grants from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation/Agencia Estatal de Investigación 10.13039/501100011033 (PID2019-103972GA-I00 to M.A.M., PID2020- 112612GB-I00 to T.K. and PID2020-116261GB-I00 to J.A.G.) and the Junta de Andalucía (grant P18- FR-1621 to T.K.). A.R. was supported by the Ramon y Cajal R&D&i Programme (RYC2019- 026481-I) from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation/Agencia Estatal de Investigación 10.13039/501100011033 y FSE ‘El FSE invierte en tu futuro’. Microorganisms are exposed in their natural niches to a wide diversity of sig- nal molecules. Specific detection of these signals results in alterations in mi- crobial metabolism and physiology. Auxins like indole-3-acetic acid are key phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development. Nonetheless, auxin biosynthesis is not restricted to plants but is ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. This wide phylogenetic distribution of auxins production, together with the diversity of regulated cellular processes, have made auxins key intra- and inter-kingdom signal molecules in life modulating, for example microbial physiology, metabolism and virulence. Despite their increasing importance as global signal molecules, the mechanisms by which auxins perform their regu- latory functions in microorganisms are largely unknown. In this article, we outline recent research that has advanced our knowledge of the mechanisms of bacterial auxin perception. We also highlight the potential applications of this research in aspects such as antibiotic production, biosensor design, plant microbiome engineering and antivirulence therapies. 2023-05-30T11:10:19Z 2023-05-30T11:10:19Z 2023 journal article Krell, T., Gavira, J.A., Roca, A. & Matilla, M.A. (2023) The emerging role of auxins as bacterial signal molecules: Potential biotechnological applications. Microbial Biotechnology, 00, 1–5. Available from: [https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14235] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/82027 10.1111/1751-7915.14235 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ open access Atribución 4.0 Internacional Wiley