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Molecular Bases of Signaling Processes Regulated by Cryptochrome Sensory Photoreceptors in Plants

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Abstract

The blue-light sensors, cryptochromes, compose the extensive class of flavoprotein photoreceptors, regulating signaling processes in plants underlying their development, growth, and metabolism. In several algae, cryptochromes may act not only as sensory photoreceptors but also as photolyases, catalyzing repair of the UV-induced DNA lesions. Cryptochromes bind FAD as the chromophore at the photolyase homologous region (PHR) domain and contain the cryptochrome C-terminal extension (CCE), which is absent in photolyases. Photosensory process in cryptochrome is initiated by photochemical chromophore conversions, including formation of the FAD redox forms. In the state with the chromophore reduced to neutral radical (FADH•), the photoreceptor protein undergoes phosphorylation, conformational changes, and disengagement from the PHR domain and CCE with subsequent formation of oligomers of cryptochrome molecules. Photooligomerization is a structural basis of the functional activities of cryptochromes, since it ensures formation of their complexes with a variety of signaling proteins, including transcriptional factors and regulators of transcription. Interactions in such complexes change the protein signaling activities, leading to regulation of gene expression and plant photomorphogenesis. In recent years, multiple papers, reporting novel, more detailed information about the molecular mechanisms of above-mentioned processes were published. The present review mainly focuses on analysis of the data contained in these publications, particularly regarding structural aspects of the cryptochrome transitions into photoactivated states and regulatory signaling processes mediated by the cryptochrome photoreceptors in plants.

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Abbreviations

6-4PP:

pyrimidine 6-4 pyrimidone photoproduct

BICs:

blue light inhibitors of CRYs

CCE:

cryptochrome C-terminal extension

CIB:

CRY-interacting bHLH

CO:

constans

COP1:

constitutive photomorphogenic 1

CPD:

cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer

CPH1:

Chlamydomonas photolyase homologous 1 plant-like pCRY of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

CPF:

cryptochrome/photolyase family

CraCRY:

animal-like aCRY of C. reinhardtii

CRY:

cryptochrome

PIF:

phytochrome-interacting factor

PPKs:

photoregulatory protein kinases

LRGs:

light-responsive genes

PHR:

photolyase homologous region

SPA:

suppressor of PHYA-105 1

UVB/UVA:

UV of B-region (290-320 nm)/UV of A-region (320-400 nm)

UVR8:

UV resistance locus 8

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the State Budget Assignment of Lomonosov Moscow State University, project no. 121032500058-7.

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  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    Grigori Ya. Fraikin, Natalia S. Belenikina & Andrey B. Rubin

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  1. Grigori Ya. Fraikin
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  2. Natalia S. Belenikina
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  3. Andrey B. Rubin
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G.Ya.F. – conceptualization, analysis of publications, writing and editing the text; N.S.B. – manuscript and figure preparation; A.B.R. – discussion of the manuscript material with coauthors.

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Correspondence to Grigori Ya. Fraikin.

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Fraikin, G.Y., Belenikina, N.S. & Rubin, A.B. Molecular Bases of Signaling Processes Regulated by Cryptochrome Sensory Photoreceptors in Plants. Biochemistry Moscow 88, 770–782 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297923060056

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