title: Photocycle and signaling mechanisms of plant cryptochromes.
abstract: Cryptochromes are flavoprotein blue light receptors that control many aspects of plant growth and development including seedling de-etiolation, elongation growth, the initiation of flowering, and entrainment of the circadian clock. Photon absorption by Arabidopsis cryptochromes cry1 and cry2 initiates electron transfer to the oxidized flavin cofactor (FADox) and formation of the presumed biological signaling state FADH°. Current literature on the nature and formation of the signaling state is reviewed, and potential novel roles for cryptochromes in oxidative stress and as magnetosensors are discussed in light of the cryptochrome photocycle.
authors.affiliation: UMR 8256B B2A, IBPS, Casier 156, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 Quai St. Bernard, 75005 Paris, France; Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207, USA. Electronic address: margaret.ahmad@upmc.fr.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D010465:Perception; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C538962:CRY1 protein, Arabidopsis; C103618:CRY2 protein, Arabidopsis; D056931:Cryptochromes