How Blue and Red Light Synergistically Drive Stomatal Opening
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellHosotani et al. explore the molecular mechanisms that modulate stomatal opening under different light conditions.
by Sakurako Hosotani and Atsushi Takemiya (Yamaguchi University)
Background: Opening of stomatal pores is essential for photosynthetic CO2 fixation and transpiration in terrestrial…
A novel hyperactive UVR8 variant for enhanced UV-B responses (PNAS)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants perceive UV-B radiation using a specialized photoreceptor protein called UVR8. Upon UV-B exposure, activated UVR8 initiates a signaling cascade, inducing a range of morphological and biochemical responses that facilitates UV adaptation. In a mutagenesis screen, Podolec et al. identified a mutant…
Shade avoidance or shade tolerance? The balancing act of PIF-HFR1 module (EMBO J.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants have evolved two major adaptive strategies to tackle shade from their neighbours: avoidance and tolerance. However, what makes a species shade-avoider or shade-tolerant at the molecular level has remained mostly elusive. Recently, Paulisic et al. uncovered the key role of a regulatory module formed…
A novel GUN1-independent retrograde signaling pathway represses photomorphogenesis (Plant Physiol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklySeedlings emerging in light undergo photomorphogenic development, forming short hypocotyls and green, fully opened cotyledons. Disruption of chloroplast development by drugs such as lincomycin induces retrograde signals (RS) that inhibit photomorphogenesis. The retrograde signaling pathway has been known…
SAURs protein antagonistically regulate a phosphatase activity during apical hook development and cotyledon opening (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research Weekly
Upon germination in dark, plants adopt a strategy known as skotomorphogenesis, or etiolation, to protect the shoot apical meristem and cotyledon from damage while the seedling moves through the soil. The seedlings de-etiolate when they perceive light and the apical hook and cotyledon open. Wang et…
A constitutively monomeric UVR8 photoreceptor allele confers enhanced UV-B photomorphogenesis (bioRxiv)
Plant Science Research WeeklyIn response to UV-B light, the plant UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) monomerizes and activates, inducing UV-B acclimation and survival. Re-dimerization by REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 1 (RUP1) and RUP2 inactivates UVR8. In order to further clarify UVR8 pathway regulation, Podolec…
Post germination seedling establishment by ABA in response to light (Plant J.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyAbscisic acid (ABA), is implicated in reversible inhibition of seed germination (emergence of radicle) and post-germination seedling establishment (formation of green open cotyledons) during unfavorable conditions. Yadukrishnan et al. analyzed the role of light in ABA- mediated inhibition of post germination…
Review: The bHLH network underlying plant shade-avoidance (Physiol. Plant.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyShade avoidance is a complex phenomenon in which plants avoid shade by altering their developmental program in various ways including early flowering, hypocotyl elongation, and more. Many photoreceptors and transcription factors (TFs) are involved in regulating shade avoidance, including the bHLH (basic…
MYB30 negatively regulates photomorphogenesis by interacting with PIFs and phytochromes in Arabidopsis (Plant Cell)
Plant Science Research WeeklyPhotomorphogenesis is the growth and development of plants in response to light. The phytochrome family of photoreceptors absorbs red and far-red light, and in Arabidopsis the most abundant phytochromes are phyA and phyB. PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) repress photomorphogenesis, and under red…