Light-dependent, dark-promoted interaction between Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 and phytochrome B proteins

J Biol Chem. 2012 Jun 22;287(26):22165-72. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.360545. Epub 2012 May 10.

Abstract

Plant photoreceptors transduce environmental light cues to downstream signaling pathways, regulating a wide array of processes during growth and development. Two major plant photoreceptors with critical roles in photomorphogenesis are phytochrome B (phyB), a red/far-red absorbing photoreceptor, and cryptochrome 1 (CRY1), a UV-A/blue photoreceptor. Despite substantial genetic evidence for cross-talk between phyB and CRY1 pathways, a direct interaction between these proteins has not been observed. Here, we report that Arabidopsis phyB interacts directly with CRY1 in a light-dependent interaction. Surprisingly, the interaction is light-dissociated; CRY1 interacts specifically with the dark/far-red (Pr) state of phyB, but not with the red light-activated (Pfr) or the chromophore unconjugated form of the enzyme. The interaction is also regulated by light activation of CRY1; phyB Pr interacts only with the unstimulated form of CRY1 but not with the photostimulated protein. Further studies reveal that a small domain extending from the photolyase homology region (PHR) of CRY1 regulates the specificity of the interaction with different conformational states of phyB. We hypothesize that in plants, the phyB/CRY1 interaction may mediate cross-talk between the red/far-red- and blue/UV-sensing pathways, enabling fine-tuning of light responses to different spectral inputs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Cryptochromes / metabolism*
  • Cryptochromes / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Light
  • Models, Biological
  • Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
  • Phytochrome B / metabolism*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Signal Transduction
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • CRY1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Cryptochromes
  • Phytochrome B