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

光是植物监测环境以触发适应性生长反应的重要线索。光感受器，如光敏色素，是植物的“眼睛”，可以感知光的方向、质量和数量。PhyA是一种光不稳定的光敏色素，其特殊之处在于它能调节对不同光照条件的反应，包括极低光通量(VLFR)和高光照度(HIR)。我们工作的目的是加深我们对依赖于PhyA的VLFR的理解，并进一步阐明它作为植物发育的重要调节因子的生物学和生化功能。OWL1是我们实验室分离到的第一个VLFR信号转导通路特异蛋白，它将被用作分析信号转导通路的分子工具。此外，我们的目标是分离该途径的其他组件。了解该通路的组成部分是了解导致观察到的生理变化的信号网络的先决条件。

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.