Photoconversion and Nuclear Trafficking Cycles Determine Phytochrome A's Response Profile to Far-Red Light
02.09.2011
Rausenberger J, Tscheuschler A, Nordmeier W, Wüst F, Timmer J, Schäfer E, Fleck C, Hiltbrunner A
Cell 2011;146(5):813-25.
The emergent properties of the red-light adsorbing photoreceptor phytochrome A (phyA) are seemingly inconsistent with its biophysical properties. In particular, phyA is the only photoreceptor in plants initiating responses in far-red light and as such essential for survival in canopy shade. Using an experimental-theoretical approach we unravel the molecular mechanism underlying this shift of the phyA action peak from red to far-red light and show that it relies on network properties by a nonlinear coupling between two antagonistic photoconversion cycles in the cytosol and the nucleus.
