Direct targeting of light signals to a promoter element-bound transcription factor.

Light signals perceived by the phytochrome family of sensory photoreceptors are transduced to photoresponsive genes by an unknown mechanism. Here, we show that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor PIF3 binds specifically to a G-box DNA-sequence motif present in various light-regulated gene promoters, and that phytochrome B binds reversibly to G-box-bound ...
PIF3 specifically upon light-triggered conversion of the photoreceptor to its biologically active conformer. We suggest that the phytochromes may function as integral light-switchable components of transcriptional regulator complexes, permitting continuous and immediate sensing of changes in this environmental signal directly at target gene promoters.
Mesh Terms:
Arabidopsis, Arabidopsis Proteins, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Cell Cycle Proteins, DNA, Plant, DNA-Binding Proteins, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Genes, Plant, Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs, Light, Models, Genetic, Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Photoreceptor Cells, Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins, Phytochrome, Phytochrome B, Plant Proteins, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Signal Transduction, Transcription Factors
Science
Date: May. 05, 2000
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