PHOTOREGULARTORY SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

近年来，我们首次对隐花色素的分子结构进行了研究，隐花色素是一种含有黄素的蓝光感受器。我们首先从植物拟南芥中分离出隐色素--然而，这种光感受器似乎存在于所有高等植物中，也存在于蕨类和藻类中。最近，包括人类在内的哺乳动物的隐花色素样基因被描述出来。在植物中，隐花色素在感知周围环境中的光的过程中发挥着重要作用--植物通过这种光感受器来响应光诱导的信号来调节自己的生长。人类隐花色素样蛋白似乎很可能参与了昼夜行为节律的调节。这项提议的长期目标是定义隐花色素感知和传递光信号的分子机制。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.