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Characterisation of a UV-B-specific signalling pathway

Reference	BB/D019281/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Gareth Islwyn Jenkins
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Glasgow
Department	Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	385,272
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/05/2006
End date	30/04/2009
Duration	36 months

Abstract

UV-B wavelengths (280-320 nm) induce physiological responses in plants, but very little is known about the processes of UV-B perception and signal transduction. We have recently discovered that the Arabidopsis protein UVR8 is a UV-B-specific signalling component that mediates a range of gene expression responses involved in secondary metabolism, anti-oxidant defence and UV-protection and have shown that UVR8 associates with chromatin to regulate the expression of a key target gene, encoding the transcription factor HY5. The initial aim of this project is to characterise the UVR8 pathway, determine its interaction with other light signalling pathways and examine whether it regulates UV-B responses other than gene expression. We will then investigate the UV-B regulation of the cellular localisation, abundance and phosphorylation of UVR8 and how this regulation is influenced by specific components. Finally we will examine whether UV-B regulates the association of UVR8 with chromatin and how UVR8 acts to control HY5 transcription and protein accumulation.

Summary

UV-B wavelengths (280-320 nm) are an integral component of the daylight spectrum. UV-B induces physiological responses in plants, including changes in morphology and development and the regulation of various genes involved in secondary metabolism, chloroplast function and protection of the plant from damage by UV-B. Remarkably very little is known about how UV-B is perceived by plants and how it initiates responses. However, the first component involved in these processes has recently been identified, a protein called UVR8. The aim of this project is to characterise the UVR8 pathway, its interaction with other photoregulatory pathways and components, to understand how UV-B regulates UVR8 and to determine how UVR8 regulates transcription of target genes. Establishing how UVR8 is regulated and how it functions to control gene expresion will help us to understand how UV-B regulates aspects of plant growth and development and how plants survive in sunlight.

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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