Biological function of aureochromes in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Peter Kroth; Professor Dr. Christian Wilhelm
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2009 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 112805507

Diatoms are unicellular algae that can be found in any aquatic habitat. Being mainly photoautotrophs, diatoms use light as a driving force for photosynthesis but also for cellular regulation. Wehave shown that a blue light receptor is responsible for triggering the metabolic changes which induce high light acclimation. There is some evidence that aureochromes (AUREOs) which are blue light receptors and transcriptions factors possessing a bZIP and a LOV domain may be responsible for this light acclimation reaction. We have generated Aureo mutants which are significantly decreased in AUREO1a on the protein level. These mutants will be studied on the physiological level if the light acclimation reaction is impaired. On the genomic level we want to identify cis-acting elements as well as interaction partners of the AUREO proteins.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1261: Specific Light Driven Reactions in Unicellular Model Algae