Photosensory Receptors Scifair Projects

Photosynthesis

Photosensory receptors are used to gather light energy. This energy is then used by the plant.

Objectives/Goals

Plants rely on photosensory receptors to mediate light regulation of growth and development. The photoreceptors and the signaling proteins responsible for plant perception of visible light (~400-700nm) are relatively well understood, but those responsible for UV (ultraviolet) light (~150-400nm) are poorly understood. I aim to better understand how plants respond to UV light.

Methods/Materials

I analyzed the effects of UV light on hypocotyl seedling growth in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and I have used molecular genetic approaches to identify three genes invovled in this response.

Results

The red/far-red light (~600-700nm) photoreceptor phyA and the visible light downstream signaling protein HY5 are both involved in UV-A light (~320nm-400nm) response in plants, and the novel gene LSD1 (light signaling and development 1) is involved in UV-B light (~280nm-320nm) response in plants.

Conclusions/Discussion

Red/far-red light photoreceptor phyA can act as a UV-A photoreceptor. The transcription factor HY5, previously known to be involved in visible light response, is also involved in UV-A signal transduction. The LSD1 gene encodes a putative RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in UV-B signal transduction. Continued studies of these genes will help us understand how plants respond to UV light, and thus help us react effectively to the increasing amount of UV rays penetrating the atmosphere due to the depletion of the ozone layer. 3rd party contributor