Q&A: How do plants sense and respond to UV-B radiation?

Ulm, R. and Jenkins, G. (2015) Q&A: How do plants sense and respond to UV-B radiation? BMC Biology, 13, 45. (doi: 10.1186/s12915-015-0156-y) (PMID:26123292) (PMCID:PMC4484705)

[img]
Preview
Text
108266.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

1MB

Abstract

Plants are able to sense UV-B through the UV-B photoreceptor UVR8. UV-B photon absorption by a UVR8 homodimer leads to UVR8 monomerization and interaction with the downstream signaling factor COP1. This then initiates changes in gene expression, which lead to several metabolic and morphological alterations. A major response is the activation of mechanisms associated with UV-B acclimation and UV-B tolerance, including biosynthesis of sunscreen metabolites, antioxidants and DNA repair enzymes. To balance the response, UVR8 is inactivated by regulated re-dimerization. Apart from their importance for plants, UVR8 and its interacting protein COP1 have already proved useful for the optogenetic toolkit used to engineer synthetic light-dependent responses.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Jenkins, Professor Gareth
Authors: Ulm, R., and Jenkins, G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:BMC Biology
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1741-7007
ISSN (Online):1741-7007
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Biology 13:45
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record