Light-induced gene-specific expression of the Lhc gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and their regulation by transcription and translation

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Appenroth
• Subject Area: Plant Physiology
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 62071975

Fitness of plants essentially depends on two factors: how effectively they harvest and use light energy, and how successfully they adapt to changing light environment. The adjustment of the photosynthetic light harvesting antenna (LHC) in response to different growth light quantities and qualities is an example of such adaptation. The antenna is composed of different types of chlorophylland carotenoid-binding proteins, the Lhc proteins. In Arabidopsis, Lhc proteins are encoded by a nuclear gene family containing 20 evolutionary related genes that are known to be regulated by light. By application of suitable light conditions combined with the investigation of mutants we want to find out how photosensory processes (mediated by phytochromes) and photosynthesisoriginated signals influence different regulation levels of Lhc genes during development of Arabidopsis seedlings. For the first time, all 20 Lhc genes will be detected specifically under shade conditions in order to establish their distinct functions in shade tolerance physiology. The specific detection is possible by newly developed oligonucleotide hybridization probes. These probes will be used to analyse transcript levels, transcript stability, and translation rate (polyribosome loading) of all of the 20 genes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants