Phytochrome B integrates light and temperature signals in Arabidopsis

Ambient temperature regulates many aspects of plant growth and development, but its sensors are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the phytochrome B (phyB) photoreceptor participates in temperature perception through its temperature-dependent reversion from the active Pfr state to the inactive Pr state. Increased rates of thermal reversion upon exposing Arabidopsis seedlings to warm environments reduce both the abundance of the biologically active Pfr-Pfr dimer pool of phyB and the size of the associated nuclear bodies, even in daylight. Mathematical analysis of stem growth for seedlings expressing wild-type phyB or thermally stable variants under various combinations of light and temperature revealed that…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: MCB-1329956
• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: HI 1369/5-1, SCHA 303/16-1
• UD
  Universidad de Buenos Aires

  Award: 2.00E+13
• FR
  Fundación René Barón
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Award: BB/I013350/1
• AN
  Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica

  Awards: PICT 2012-1396, PICT 2013-1444