title: The evolution of flavin-binding photoreceptors: an ancient chromophore serving trendy blue-light sensors.
abstract: Photoreceptor flavoproteins of the LOV, BLUF, and cryptochrome families are ubiquitous among the three domains of life and are configured as UVA/blue-light systems not only in plants-their original arena-but also in prokaryotes and microscopic algae. Here, we review these proteins' structure and function, their biological roles, and their evolution and impact in the living world, and underline their growing application in biotechnologies. We present novel developments such as the interplay of light and redox stimuli, emerging enzymatic and biological functions, lessons on evolution from picoalgae, metagenomics analysis, and optogenetics applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. aba.losi@fis.unipr.it
authors.forename: Aba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Losi
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gärtner
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D005075:Biological Evolution; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005415:Flavins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000639:trends; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism; D062308:Optogenetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017785:Photons; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D056931:Cryptochromes; D005415:Flavins; D009712:Nucleotides, Cyclic