OWL1 - a molecular tool to dissect the phytochrome A-dependent Very Low Fluence Response (VLFR)

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Light is an important cue with which plants monitor their environment to trigger adaptive growth responses. Photoreceptors, such as the phytochromes, are the “eyes” of the plants, which can sense direction, quality and quantity of the light. PhyA, the light-instable form of phytochromes, is special because it mediates responses to different light conditions, both the very low fluences (VLFR) and high irradiances (HIR). The aim of our work is to further our understanding of the PhyA-dependent VLFR and to further elucidate its biological and biochemical function as an important modulator of plant development. OWL1, isolated in our lab as the first protein specific for the VLFR pathway, will be used as a molecular tool with which to dissect the signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, we aim to isolate additional components of the pathway. The knowledge of the components of the pathway is a prerequisite to understand the signaling network leading to the physiological changes observed.