A phosphorylation switch turns a positive regulator of phototropism into an inhibitor of the process

Paolo Schumacher, Emilie Demarsy, Patrice Waridel, Laure Allenbach Petrolati, Martine Trevisan and Christian Fankhauser ()
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Paolo Schumacher: University of Lausanne
Emilie Demarsy: University of Lausanne
Patrice Waridel: University of Lausanne
Laure Allenbach Petrolati: University of Lausanne
Martine Trevisan: University of Lausanne
Christian Fankhauser: University of Lausanne

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Phototropins are light-activated protein kinases, which contribute to photosynthesis optimization both through enhancement of photon absorption when light is limiting and avoidance responses in high light. This duality is in part endowed by the presence of phototropins with different photosensitivity (phot1 and phot2). Here we show that phot1, which senses low light to promote positive phototropism (growth towards the light), also limits the response in high light. This response depends in part on phot1-mediated phosphorylation of Phytochrome Kinase Substrate 4 (PKS4). This light-regulated phosphorylation switch changes PKS4 from a phototropism enhancer in low light to a factor limiting the process in high light. In such conditions phot1 and PKS4 phosphorylation prevent phototropic responses to shallow light gradients and limit phototropism in a natural high light environment. Hence, by modifying PKS4 activity in high light the phot1-PKS4 regulon enables appropriate physiological adaptations over a range of light intensities.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04752-1

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