Nucleocytoplasmic partitioning of the plant photoreceptors phytochrome A, B, C, D, and E is regulated differentially by light and exhibits a diurnal rhythm.
The phytochrome family of plant photoreceptors has a central role in the adaptation of plant development to changes in ambient light conditions. The individual phytochrome species regulate different or partly overlapping physiological responses. We generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing phytochrome A to E:green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins to assess the biological role of intracellular compartmentation of these photoreceptors in light-regulated signaling. We show that all phytochrome:GFP fusion proteins were imported into the nuclei. Translocation of these photoreceptors into the nuclei was regulated differentially by light. Light-induced accumulation of phytochrome species in the nuclei resulted in the formation of speckles. The appearance of these nuclear structures exhibited distinctly different kinetics, wavelengths, and fluence dependence and was regulated by a diurnal rhythm. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the import of mutant phytochrome B:GFP and phytochrome A:GFP fusion proteins, shown to be defective in signaling in vivo, is regulated by light but is not accompanied by the formation of speckles. These results suggest that (1) the differential regulation of the translocation of phytochrome A to E into nuclei plays a role in the specification of functions, and (2) the appearance of speckles is a functional feature of phytochrome-regulated signaling.
Kircher
Stefan
S
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Biologie II/Botanik, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Gil
Patricia
P
Kozma-Bognár
László
L
Fejes
Erzsébet
E
Speth
Volker
V
Husselstein-Muller
Tania
T
Bauer
Diana
D
Adám
Eva
E
Schäfer
Eberhard
E
Nagy
Ferenc
F
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects; D001059:Apoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008027:Light; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009154:Mutation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells; D010834:Phytochrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051942:Phytochrome A; D051939:Phytochrome B; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors
D001059:Apoproteins; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C497973:PHYA protein, Arabidopsis; C497952:PHYB protein, Arabidopsis; D051942:Phytochrome A; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C406683:phytochrome C, Arabidopsis; C406684:phytochrome E; D010834:Phytochrome; D051939:Phytochrome B; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C088754:PHYD protein, Arabidopsis