Cryptochrome-mediated blue-light signalling modulates UVR8 photoreceptor activity and contributes to UV-B tolerance in Arabidopsis

Nat Commun. 2020 Mar 12;11(1):1323. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15133-y.

Abstract

UV-B constitutes a critical part of the sunlight reaching the earth surface. The homodimeric plant UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) monomerizes in response to UV-B and induces photomorphogenic responses, including UV-B acclimation and tolerance. REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 1 (RUP1) and RUP2 are negative feedback regulators that operate by facilitating UVR8 ground state reversion through re-dimerization. Here we show that RUP1 and RUP2 are transcriptionally induced by cryptochrome photoreceptors in response to blue light, which is dependent on the bZIP transcriptional regulator ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5). Elevated RUP1 and RUP2 levels under blue light enhance UVR8 re-dimerization, thereby negatively regulating UVR8 signalling and providing photoreceptor pathway cross-regulation in a polychromatic light environment, as is the case in nature. We further show that cryptochrome 1, as well as the red-light photoreceptor phytochrome B, contribute to UV-B tolerance redundantly with UVR8. Thus, photoreceptors for both visible light and UV-B regulate UV-B tolerance through an intricate interplay allowing the integration of diverse sunlight signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological* / radiation effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / physiology*
  • Arabidopsis / radiation effects*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism*
  • Cryptochromes / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / radiation effects
  • Hypocotyl / growth & development
  • Hypocotyl / radiation effects
  • Light
  • Light Signal Transduction* / radiation effects
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein Multimerization / radiation effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seedlings / radiation effects
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • Cryptochromes
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Uvr8 protein, Arabidopsis