PHOTOREGULARTORY SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

近年来，我们提供了第一个洞察隐花色素的分子结构，含黄素的蓝光感光器。 我们首先从植物拟南芥中分离出隐花色素-然而，光感受器似乎存在于所有高等植物中，也存在于蕨类植物和藻类中。 最近，隐花色素样基因已被描述为哺乳动物，包括人类。 在植物中，隐花色素在感知周围环境中的光方面起着重要作用-植物调节其生长以响应由这种光受体介导的光诱导信号。 人类隐花色素样蛋白似乎可以调节昼夜行为节律。这项提案的长期目标是确定隐花色素感知和传输光信号的分子机制。 我们将使用分子方法和拟南芥遗传学的力量来进行这些研究。

In recent years we have provided the first insight into the molecular structure of cryptochrome, a flavin-containing blue light photoreceptor. We first isolated cryptochrome from the plant Arabidopsis - however, the photoreceptor appears to be present in all higher plants and is also found in ferns and algae. Recently, cryptochrome-like genes have been described for mammals, including humans. In plants, cryptochrome plays an important role in the perception of light in the surrounding environment - plants adjust their growth in response to light- induced signaling mediated by this photoreceptor. It seems likely that the human cryptochrome-like protein mediates entrainment of circadian behavioral rhythms. The long-term objectives of this proposal are to define the molecular mechanism by which cryptochrome perceives and transmits a light signal. We will use both a molecular approach and the power of Arabidopsis genetics to carry out these studies.