Arabidopsis FHY3 defines a key phytochrome A signaling component directly interacting with its homologous partner FAR1

EMBO J. 2002 Mar 15;21(6):1339-49. doi: 10.1093/emboj/21.6.1339.

Abstract

In Arabidopsis, phytochrome A (phyA) is the primary photoreceptor mediating various plant responses to far-red (FR) light. Here we show that phyA signaling involves a combinatorial action of downstream intermediates, which controls overlapping yet distinctive sets of FR responses. FHY3 is a prominent phyA signaling intermediate sharing structural similarity to FAR1, a previously identified phyA signaling component. The fhy3 and far1 mutants display similar yet distinctive defects in phyA signaling; however, overexpression of either FHY3 or FAR1 suppresses the mutant phenotype of both genes. Moreover, overexpression of partial fragments of FHY3 can cause a dominant-negative interference phenotype on phyA signaling that is stronger than those of the fhy3 or far1 null mutants. Further, we demonstrate that FHY3 and FAR1 are capable of homo- and hetero-interaction. Our data indicate that FHY3, together with FAR1, defines a key module in a signaling network underlying phyA-mediated FR light responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arabidopsis
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / classification
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Light
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / classification
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / genetics
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phytochrome / metabolism*
  • Phytochrome A
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • FAR1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • FHY3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PHYA protein, Arabidopsis
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Phytochrome A
  • Phytochrome