Let there be light in the nucleus!
Ambient light conditions trigger both developmental transitions, such as the induction of flowering, and a suite of adaptive responses, exemplified by the shade-avoidance syndrome. These responses are initiated by three families of photoreceptors that are conserved in all higher plants: the phototropins, cryptochromes and phytochromes (phyA--phyE, cry1--cry3, phot1 and phot2 in Arabidopsis). Molecular genetic studies performed mainly in Arabidopsis indicate that photon capture by these light sensors usually initiates rapid changes in the gene expression profile, leading to plant adaptation to their environment. Interestingly, numerous transcription factors are early targets of light regulation, both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Lorrain
Séverine
S
Centre for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Genopode Building, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Genoud
Thierry
T
Fankhauser
Christian
C
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018524:Phototropism / Q000502:physiology; D010834:Phytochrome / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects*
D010834:Phytochrome