Review: Phytochrome diversification in cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae ($)

Phytochromes were first characterized in classic studies of plants, in which their contributions to seed germination and initiation of flowering were described. Subsequently, phytochromes were identified in cyanobacteria and in non-photosynthetic organisms including fungi. Rockwell and Lagarias review the structure and function of phytochromes in diverse organisms, describe current models for the origin of plant phytochromes, and summarize unanswered questions. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 10.1016/j.pbi.2017.04.003