Phytochromes function as thermosensors inArabidopsis

Abstract

Plants are responsive to temperature, and some species can distinguish differences of 1°C. In Arabidopsis, warmer temperature accelerates flowering and increases elongation growth (thermomorphogenesis). However, the mechanisms of temperature perception are largely unknown. We describe a major thermosensory role for the phytochromes (red light receptors) during the night. Phytochrome null plants display a constitutive warm-temperature response, and consistent with this, we show in this background that the warm-temperature transcriptome becomes derepressed at low temperatures. We found that phytochrome B (phyB) directly associates with the promoters of key target genes in a temperature-dependent manner. The rate of phyB inactivation is proportional to temperature in the dark, enabling phytochromes to function as thermal timers that integrate temperature information over the course of the night.

Journal

Title: Science

Abbreviated Title: Science

Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

ISSN (Print): 0036-8075

ISSN (Electronic): 1095-9203

Publication date Created: November 17 2016

Publication date Created: November 18 2016

Publication date (Print): November 18 2016

Publication date (Electronic): October 27 2016

Volume: 354

Issue: 6314

Pages: 886-889

Article

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf6005

PubMed ID: 27789797

SO-VID: c94267ef-081c-4d2e-a5d6-ce6cb51e143f

Copyright statement: © 2016

License:

http://www.sciencemag.org/about/science-licenses-journal-article-reuse

Product

Self URI (article page): https://www.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaf6005