Phytochromes: More Than Meets the Eye

Stefan A Rensing; David J Sheerin; Andreas Hiltbrunner

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2016.05.009

Phytochromes: More Than Meets the Eye

Trends Plant Sci. 2016 Jul;21(7):543-546. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.05.009. Epub 2016 Jun 3.

Authors

Stefan A Rensing¹, David J Sheerin², Andreas Hiltbrunner³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Plant Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 8, 35043 Marburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: stefan.rensing@biologie.uni-marburg.de.
² Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
³ Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.hiltbrunner@biologie.uni-freiburg.de.

PMID: 27270335
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.05.009

Abstract

Phytochromes play a key role in the regulation of plant growth and development. Phytochrome-related proteins also occur in some bacteria, fungi, and algae. We highlight recent findings on the evolution of phytochromes and discuss novel hypotheses on the function of phytochromes in diatoms, a group of mainly pelagic algae.

Keywords: diatoms; evolution; light signaling; phytochrome.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Diatoms / metabolism
Diatoms / radiation effects
Evolution, Molecular
Light
Phytochrome / genetics
Phytochrome / metabolism*
Plants / genetics
Plants / metabolism
Plants / radiation effects
Signal Transduction / genetics
Signal Transduction / physiology
Signal Transduction / radiation effects

Substances

Phytochrome