title: Molecular cloning of cryptochrome 1 from apple and its functional characterization in Arabidopsis.
abstract: Cryptochromes are blue-light photoreceptors involved in regulating many aspects of plant growth and development. Investigations of cryptochromes in plants have largely focused on Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), rice (Oryza sativa) and pea (Pisum sativum). Here, we isolated the cryptochrome 1 gene from apple (Malus domestica) (MdCRY1) and analyzed its function in transgenic Arabidopsis. The predicted MdCRY1 protein was most closely homologous to strawberry CRY1. In terms of transcript levels, MdCRY1 expression was up-regulated by light. The function of MdCRY1 was analyzed through heterologous expression in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of MdCRY1 in Arabidopsis is able to rescue the cry1 mutant phenotype, inhibit hypocotyl elongation, promote root growth, and enhance anthocyanin accumulation in wild-type seedlings under blue light. These data provide functional evidence for a role of MdCRY1 in controlling photomorphogenesis under blue light and indicate that CRY1 function is conserved between Arabidopsis and apple. Furthermore, we found that MdCRY1 interacts with AtCOP1 in both yeast and onion cells. This interaction may represent an important regulatory mechanism in blue-light signaling pathway in apple.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Fen
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Rui
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China; College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-An, Shandong 271018, China. Electronic address: haoyujin@sdau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yu-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D027845:Malus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D056931:Cryptochromes; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Apple; Arabidopsis; Functional characterization; MdCRY1; Molecular cloning