How organisms respond to light and how photosensory receptors mediate light responses are basic questions in biology. Our long-term goal is to find the molecular explanation of these questions, using the cryptochrome photoreceptor as a model system. Cryptochromes (CRY) are the blue/UV-A light receptors and/or core components of the circadian oscillator found in all evolutionary lineages including human. My laboratory focuses on the study of plant cryptochromes. In the previous funding periods, we discovered two major CRY2 signal transduction mechanisms: the CIB1 (Cryptochrome-Interacting bHLH 1)-based transcription- regulatory mechanism and SPA1/COP1 (Suppressor of Phytochrome A 1/Constitutive Photomorphogenesis 1)-based proteolysis-regulatory mechanism. More recently, we identified a CIB-interacting protein FOF1 (F-box of Flowering 1) responsible for the blue light-regulated degradation of CIB1; two new blue light-specific CRY2-interacting proteins: PRR5 (Pseudo Response Regulator 5) that is a core protein of the circadian clock, and a novel protein BIC1 (Blue- light Inhibitor of CRYs 1) tha suppresses blue light-dependent phosphorylation, degradation, and activities of CRY1 and CRY2. Based on these discoveries and newly developed tools, we propose to study three key issues of light signal transduction: the photochemical mechanism underlying photoexcitation of the CRY photoreceptor, mechanisms governing the function and regulation of the CRY complexome, and the mechanism underlying a novel coding sequence (CDS)-dependent blue light regulation of CRY2 expression.

Public Health Relevance

How organisms respond to light and how photosensory receptors mediate light responses are some of the most basic questions in biology. Cryptochromes (CRY) are blue/UV-A light receptors found in bacteria, plants, and animals including human, but the molecular mechanisms of CRYs remain not well understood. We propose to test the working hypotheses resulting from previous studies and to investigate how light regulates gene expression and plant development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM056265-18
Application #
8810671
Study Section
Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems Study Section (CSRS)
Program Officer
Maas, Stefan
Project Start
1997-08-01
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2015-03-01
Budget End
2016-02-29
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$531,047
Indirect Cost
$178,609
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Wang, Qin; Zuo, Zecheng; Wang, Xu et al. (2018) Beyond the photocycle-how cryptochromes regulate photoresponses in plants? Curr Opin Plant Biol 45:120-126
Wang, Qin; Barshop, William D; Bian, Mingdi et al. (2017) The Blue Light-Dependent Phosphorylation of the CCE Domain Determines the Photosensitivity of Arabidopsis CRY2. Mol Plant 10:357
Liu, Qing; Wang, Qin; Deng, Weixian et al. (2017) Molecular basis for blue light-dependent phosphorylation of Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2. Nat Commun 8:15234
Yang, Zhaohe; Liu, Bobin; Su, Jun et al. (2017) Cryptochromes Orchestrate Transcription Regulation of Diverse Blue Light Responses in Plants. Photochem Photobiol 93:112-127
Liu, Qing; Wang, Qin; Liu, Bin et al. (2016) The Blue Light-Dependent Polyubiquitination and Degradation of Arabidopsis Cryptochrome2 Requires Multiple E3 Ubiquitin Ligases. Plant Cell Physiol 57:2175-2186
Liu, Bobin; Yang, Zhaohe; Gomez, Adam et al. (2016) Signaling mechanisms of plant cryptochromes in Arabidopsis thaliana. J Plant Res 129:137-48
Wang, Qin; Zuo, Zecheng; Wang, Xu et al. (2016) Photoactivation and inactivation of Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2. Science 354:343-347
Gao, Jie; Wang, Xu; Zhang, Meng et al. (2015) Trp triad-dependent rapid photoreduction is not required for the function of Arabidopsis CRY1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:9135-40
Wang, Qin; Barshop, William D; Bian, Mingdi et al. (2015) The blue light-dependent phosphorylation of the CCE domain determines the photosensitivity of Arabidopsis CRY2. Mol Plant 8:631-43
Wang, Xu; Wang, Qin; Nguyen, Paula et al. (2014) Cryptochrome-mediated light responses in plants. Enzymes 35:167-89

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