-
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Apr 2020is an industrial fungal species used for large-scale production of carotenoids. However, light-regulated physiological processes, such as carotenoid biosynthesis and...
is an industrial fungal species used for large-scale production of carotenoids. However, light-regulated physiological processes, such as carotenoid biosynthesis and phototropism, are not fully understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized three photoreceptor genes, , , and , in Bioinformatics analyses of these genes and their protein sequences revealed that the functional domains (PAS/LOV [Per-ARNT-Sim/light-oxygen-voltage] domain and zinc finger structure) of the proteins have significant homology to those of other fungal blue-light regulator proteins expressed by and The photoreceptor proteins were synthesized by heterologous expression in The chromogenic groups consisting of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) were detected to accompany BTWC-1 proteins by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence spectrometry, demonstrating that the proteins may be photosensitive. The absorbance changes of the purified BTWC-1 proteins seen under dark and light conditions indicated that they were light responsive and underwent a characteristic photocycle by light induction. Site-directed mutagenesis of the cysteine residual (Cys) in BTWC-1 did not affect the normal expression of the protein in but did lead to the loss of photocycle response, indicating that Cys represents a flavin-binding domain for photon detection. We then analyzed the functions of BTWC-1 proteins by complementing , , and into the counterpart knockout strains of for each gene. Transformation of the complement into knockout strains restored the positive phototropism, while the addition of complement remedied the deficiency of carotene biosynthesis in the knockout strains under conditions of illumination. These results indicate that and are involved in phototropism and light-inducible carotenogenesis. Thus, genes share a conserved flavin-binding domain and act as photoreceptors for control of different light transduction pathways in Studies have confirmed that light-regulated carotenogenesis is prevalent in filamentous fungi, especially in mucorales. However, few investigations have been done to understand photoinduced synthesis of carotenoids and related mechanisms in , a well-known industrial microbial strains. In the present study, three photoreceptor genes in were cloned, expressed, and characterized by bioinformatics and photoreception analyses, and then functional analyses of these genes were constructed in The results of this study will lead to a better understanding of photoreception and light-regulated carotenoid synthesis and other physiological responses in .
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Escherichia coli; Fungal Proteins; Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified; Mucorales; Photoreceptors, Microbial; Sequence Alignment
PubMed: 32033952
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02962-19 -
Current Genomics Oct 2021Changes in environmental conditions like temperature and light critically influence crop production. To deal with these changes, plants possess various photoreceptors... (Review)
Review
Changes in environmental conditions like temperature and light critically influence crop production. To deal with these changes, plants possess various photoreceptors such as Phototropin (PHOT), Phytochrome (PHY), Cryptochrome (CRY), and UVR8 that work synergistically as sensor and stress sensing receptors to different external cues. PHOTs are capable of regulating several functions like growth and development, chloroplast relocation, thermomorphogenesis, metabolite accumulation, stomatal opening, and phototropism in plants. PHOT plays a pivotal role in overcoming the damage caused by excess light and other environmental stresses (heat, cold, and salinity) and biotic stress. The crosstalk between photoreceptors and phytohormones contributes to plant growth, seed germination, photo-protection, flowering, phototropism, and stomatal opening. Molecular genetic studies using gene targeting and synthetic biology approaches have revealed the potential role of different photoreceptor genes in the manipulation of various beneficial agronomic traits. Overexpression of PHOT2 in leads to the increase in anthocyanin content in its leaves and fruits. Artificial illumination with blue light alone and in combination with red light influence the growth, yield, and secondary metabolite production in many plants, while in algal species, it affects growth, chlorophyll content, lipid production and also increases its bioremediation efficiency. Artificial illumination alters the morphological, developmental, and physiological characteristics of agronomic crops and algal species. This review focuses on PHOT modulated signalosome and artificial illumination-based photo-biotechnological approaches for the development of climate-smart crops.
PubMed: 34975290
DOI: 10.2174/1389202922666210412104817 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are plant-specific blue light receptors that mediate chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and phototropism. Phototropin is composed of...
Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are plant-specific blue light receptors that mediate chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and phototropism. Phototropin is composed of the N-terminus LOV1 and LOV2 domains and the C-terminus Ser/Thr kinase domain. In previous studies, 35-P2CG transgenic plants expressing the phot2 C-terminal fragment-GFP fusion protein (P2CG) under the control of promoter showed constitutive phot2 responses, including chloroplast avoidance response, stomatal opening, and reduced hypocotyl phototropism regardless of blue light, and some detrimental growth phenotypes. In this study, to exclude the detrimental growth phenotypes caused by the ectopic expression of P2C and to improve leaf transpiration, we used the promoter for the endogenous expression of GFP-fused P2C (GP2C) (P2-GP2C) and the promoter for the guard-cell-specific expression of GP2C (B1-GP2C), respectively. In P2-GP2C plants, GP2C expression induced constitutive phototropin responses and a relatively dwarf phenotype as in 35-P2CG plants. In contrast, B1-GP2C plants showed the guard-cell-specific P2C expression that induced constitutive stomatal opening with normal phototropism, chloroplast movement, and growth phenotype. Interestingly, leaf transpiration was significantly improved in B1-GP2C plants compared to that in P2-GP2C plants and WT. Taken together, this transgenic approach could be applied to improve leaf transpiration in indoor plants.
PubMed: 35009069
DOI: 10.3390/plants11010065 -
Science Advances Dec 2020Almost a century ago, Stiles and Crawford reported that the human eye is more sensitive to light entering through the pupil center than through its periphery...
Almost a century ago, Stiles and Crawford reported that the human eye is more sensitive to light entering through the pupil center than through its periphery (Stiles-Crawford effect). This psychophysical phenomenon, later found to correlate with photoreceptor orientation toward the pupil, was dynamically phototropic, adjustable within days to an eccentrically displaced pupil. For decades, this phototropism has been speculated to involve coordinated movements of the rectilinear photoreceptor outer and inner segments. We report here that, unexpectedly, the murine photoreceptor outer segment has a seemingly light-independent orientation, but the inner segment's orientation undergoes light-dependent movement, giving rise to nonrectilinear outer and inner segments in adult mice born and reared in darkness. Light during an early critical period (~P0 to P8), however, largely sets the correct photoreceptor orientation permanently afterward. Unexpectedly, abolishing rod and cone phototransductions did not mimic darkness in early life, suggesting photosignaling extrinsic to rods and cones is involved.
PubMed: 33328242
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe2782 -
PLoS Biology Oct 2023Sunflowers are famous for their ability to track the sun throughout the day and then reorient at night to face east the following morning. This occurs by differential...
Sunflowers are famous for their ability to track the sun throughout the day and then reorient at night to face east the following morning. This occurs by differential growth patterns, with the east sides of stems growing more during the day and the west sides of stems growing more at night. This process, termed heliotropism, is generally believed to be a specialized form of phototropism; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown. To better understand heliotropism, we compared gene expression patterns in plants undergoing phototropism in a controlled environment and in plants initiating and maintaining heliotropic growth in the field. We found the expected transcriptome signatures of phototropin-mediated phototropism in sunflower stems bending towards monochromatic blue light. Surprisingly, the expression patterns of these phototropism-regulated genes are quite different in heliotropic plants. Most genes rapidly induced during phototropism display only minor differences in expression across solar tracking stems. However, some genes that are both rapidly induced during phototropism and are implicated in growth responses to foliar shade are rapidly induced on the west sides of stems at the onset of heliotropism, suggesting a possible role for red light photoreceptors in solar tracking. To test the involvement of different photoreceptor signaling pathways in heliotropism, we modulated the light environment of plants initiating solar tracking. We found that depletion of either red and far-red light or blue light did not hinder the initiation or maintenance of heliotropism in the field. Together, our results suggest that the transcriptional regulation of heliotropism is distinct from phototropin-mediated phototropism and likely involves inputs from multiple light signaling pathways.
Topics: Helianthus; Phototropins; Sunlight; Light; Phototropism; Signal Transduction; Arabidopsis Proteins
PubMed: 37906610
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002344 -
Communications Biology Jan 2024Plant organs shift their directional growth in response to environmental stimuli through tropisms. Arabidopsis roots exhibit positive hydrotropism (towards water) and...
Plant organs shift their directional growth in response to environmental stimuli through tropisms. Arabidopsis roots exhibit positive hydrotropism (towards water) and negative phototropism (away from light). In a recent study, Pang and colleagues demonstrated that root phototropism is regulated by the activity of two proteins in the elongation zone that also play essential roles in hydrotropism.
PubMed: 38195918
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05707-z -
Scientific Reports Oct 2022Directing plant growth in weightlessness requires understanding the processes that establish plant orientation and how to manipulate them. Both gravi- and phototropism...
Directing plant growth in weightlessness requires understanding the processes that establish plant orientation and how to manipulate them. Both gravi- and phototropism determine directional growth and previous experiments showed that high gradient magnetic fields (HGMF) can induce curvature in roots and shoots. Experiments with Brassica rapa verified that that gravitropism-like induction of curvature is possible in space and that the HGMF-responsive organelles are amyloplasts. We assessed the effect of space and HGMF based on 16 genes and compared their transcription with static growth and clinorotation. Amyloplasts size in root tips increased under weightlessness but decreased under clinorotation but not in response to magnetic fields. Amyloplast size changes were correlated with reduced amylase transcription in space samples and enhanced transcription after clinorotation. Mechanostimulation and weightlessness have opposite effects on the size of amyloplasts. The data show that plants perceive weightlessness, and that their metabolism adjusts to microgravity and mechanostimulation. Thus, clinorotation as surrogate for space research may lead to incorrect interpretations.
Topics: Gravitropism; Weightlessness; Plastids; Plant Roots; Plants; Rotation; Starch; Magnetic Fields; Space Flight
PubMed: 36309570
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22691-2 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2019Peanut or groundnut is one of the most important legume crops with high protein and oil content. The high nutritional qualities of peanut and its multiple usage have... (Review)
Review
Peanut or groundnut is one of the most important legume crops with high protein and oil content. The high nutritional qualities of peanut and its multiple usage have made it an indispensable component of our daily life, in both confectionary and therapeutic food industries. Given the socio-economic significance of peanut, understanding its developmental biology is important in providing a molecular framework to support breeding activities. In peanut, the formation and directional growth of a specialized reproductive organ called a peg, or gynophore, is especially relevant in genetic improvement. Several studies have indicated that peanut yield can be improved by improving reproductive traits including peg development. Therefore, we aim to identify unifying principles for the genetic control, underpinning molecular and physiological basis of peg development for devising appropriate strategy for peg improvement. This review discusses the current understanding of the molecular aspects of peanut peg development citing several studies explaining the key mechanisms. Deciphering and integrating recent transcriptomic, proteomic, and miRNA-regulomic studies provide a new perspective for understanding the regulatory events of peg development that participate in pod formation and thus control yield.
PubMed: 31681383
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01289 -
Physiology and Molecular Biology of... Jun 2023Root systems anchor plants to the substrate in addition to transporting water and nutrients, playing a fundamental role in plant survival. The gene mediates gravity...
UNLABELLED
Root systems anchor plants to the substrate in addition to transporting water and nutrients, playing a fundamental role in plant survival. The gene mediates gravity signal transduction and participates in root and shoot development and auxin flow in many plants. In this study, a regulator, LsLAZY1, was identified from based on previous transcriptome data. The conserved domain and evolutionary relationship were further analyzed comprehensively. The role of in root development was investigated by genetic transformation and associated gravity response and phototropism assay. Subcellular localization showed that LsLAZY1 was localized in the nucleus. overexpression in () increased the length of the primary roots (PRs) and the number of lateral roots (LRs) compared to . Furthermore, : transgenic seedlings affected auxin transport and showed a stronger gravitational and phototropic responses. It also promoted auxin accumulation at the root tips. These results indicated that affects root development and auxin transport.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01326-4.
PubMed: 37520815
DOI: 10.1007/s12298-023-01326-4 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2020The present review draws together wide-ranging studies performed over the last decades that catalogue the effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) upon living species... (Review)
Review
The present review draws together wide-ranging studies performed over the last decades that catalogue the effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) upon living species and their environment. We provide an overview of the tremendous variety of light-detection strategies which have evolved in living organisms - unicellular, plants and animals, covering chloroplasts (plants), and the plethora of ocular and extra-ocular organs (animals). We describe the visual pigments which permit photo-detection, paying attention to their spectral characteristics, which extend from the ultraviolet into infrared. We discuss how organisms use light information in a way crucial for their development, growth and survival: phototropism, phototaxis, photoperiodism, and synchronization of circadian clocks. These aspects are treated in depth, as their perturbation underlies much of the disruptive effects of ALAN. The review goes into detail on circadian networks in living organisms, since these fundamental features are of critical importance in regulating the interface between environment and body. Especially, hormonal synthesis and secretion are often under circadian and circannual control, hence perturbation of the clock will lead to hormonal imbalance. The review addresses how the ubiquitous introduction of light-emitting diode technology may exacerbate, or in some cases reduce, the generalized ever-increasing light pollution. Numerous examples are given of how widespread exposure to ALAN is perturbing many aspects of plant and animal behaviour and survival: foraging, orientation, migration, seasonal reproduction, colonization and more. We examine the potential problems at the level of individual species and populations and extend the debate to the consequences for ecosystems. We stress, through a few examples, the synergistic harmful effects resulting from the impacts of ALAN combined with other anthropogenic pressures, which often impact the neuroendocrine loops in vertebrates. The article concludes by debating how these anthropogenic changes could be mitigated by more reasonable use of available technology - for example by restricting illumination to more essential areas and hours, directing lighting to avoid wasteful radiation and selecting spectral emissions, to reduce impact on circadian clocks. We end by discussing how society should take into account the potentially major consequences that ALAN has on the natural world and the repercussions for ongoing human health and welfare.
PubMed: 33304237
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.602796