Cryptochrome light signals control development to suppress auxin sensitivity in the moss Physcomitrella patens.
The blue light receptors termed cryptochromes mediate photomorphological responses in seed plants. However, the mechanisms by which cryptochrome signals regulate plant development remain obscure. In this study, cryptochrome functions were analyzed using the moss Physcomitrella patens. This moss has recently become known as the only plant species in which gene replacement occurs at a high frequency by homologous recombination. Two cryptochrome genes were identified in Physcomitrella, and single and double disruptants of these genes were generated. Using these disruptants, it was revealed that cryptochrome signals regulate many steps in moss development, including induction of side branching on protonema and gametophore induction and development. In addition, the disruption of cryptochromes altered auxin responses, including the expression of auxin-inducible genes. Cryptochrome disruptants were more sensitive to external auxin than wild type in a blue light-specific manner, suggesting that cryptochrome light signals repress auxin signals to control plant development.
Imaizumi
Takato
T
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan.
Kadota
Akeo
A
Hasebe
Mitsuyasu
M
Wada
Masamitsu
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009280:Naphthaleneacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011523:Protoplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D056931:Cryptochromes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005420:Flavoproteins; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D009280:Naphthaleneacetic Acids; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D010940:Plant Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C119828:cry protein, Drosophila