Algal photoreceptors: in vivo functions and potential applications

UV-B Perception and Acclimation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

“…Like higher plants, Chlamydomonas makes use of a sophisticated photoreceptor network to monitor the light environment and regulate cellular processes in response to changes in light intensity, direction, and quality (Kianianmomeni and Hallmann, 2014). Specifically, Chlamydomonas possesses a single phototropin (Huang and Beck, 2003), rhodopsins, including channelrhodopsins (Nagel et al, 2002(Nagel et al, , 2003Kateriya et al, 2004), a plant-like cryptochrome (Reisdorph and Small, 2004), and an animal-like cryptochrome that responds to both blue and red light (Beel et al, 2012).…”

“…Furthermore, a histidine kinase rhodopsin was recently characterized that exists in both UV-A-and blue-light-absorbing isoforms (Luck et al, 2012). No phytochromes can be found in the Chlamydomonas genome, leading to speculation that the observed red-and far-red-light responses in the organism are controlled by other photoreceptors in a manner that differs from phytochrome regulation in higher plants (Kianianmomeni and Hallmann, 2014).…”

Diverse photoreceptors and light responses in plants

“…In addition, a chimeric photoreceptor kinase, neochrome, which has both GAF and LOV domains, acts as a red/far-red and a blue light sensor for phototropic response and chloroplast movement in Adiantum capillusveneris (Kawai et al 2003;Nozue et al 1998). In algae, not only major photoreceptors such as phy, cry, phot but also aureochrome (aureo) and opsin were identified by recent genomic studies (Kianianmomeni and Hallmann 2014). The molecular and genetic studies of Arabidopsis have provided significant advances in our knowledge of light responses.…”

“…The molecular and genetic studies of Arabidopsis have provided significant advances in our knowledge of light responses. In addition to the discovery of photoreceptors, many signaling factors that are involved in downstream pathways for light responses have also been broadly identified from algae to higher plants (Kami et al 2010;Kianianmomeni and Hallmann 2014). From the accumulation of knowledge of light signaling in Arabidopsis, detailed mechanisms for light signaling have been discovered.…”

“…Aureo possesses a bZIP-LOV domain and functions as a transcription factor in the nucleus. Algae have evolved various types of photoreceptors with a common photosensory domain and distinct output domains (Kianianmomeni and Hallmann 2014). A great deal of attention is being paying to algal photoreceptors as genetic sources for the development of functional proteins in optogenetics (Beyer et al 2015).…”