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Phytochrome diversity in green plants and the origin of canonical plant phytochromes

Author

Listed:
  • Fay-Wei Li

    (Duke University)

  • Michael Melkonian

    (Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne)

  • Carl J. Rothfels

    (University of California)

  • Juan Carlos Villarreal

    (Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh)

  • Dennis W. Stevenson

    (New York Botanical Garden)

  • Sean W. Graham

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Gane Ka-Shu Wong

    (University of Alberta
    University of Alberta
    BGI-Shenzhen)

  • Kathleen M. Pryer

    (Duke University)

  • Sarah Mathews

    (Harvard University Herbaria
    Present address: CSIRO, National Research Collections Australia, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia)

Abstract

Phytochromes are red/far-red photoreceptors that play essential roles in diverse plant morphogenetic and physiological responses to light. Despite their functional significance, phytochrome diversity and evolution across photosynthetic eukaryotes remain poorly understood. Using newly available transcriptomic and genomic data we show that canonical plant phytochromes originated in a common ancestor of streptophytes (charophyte algae and land plants). Phytochromes in charophyte algae are structurally diverse, including canonical and non-canonical forms, whereas in land plants, phytochrome structure is highly conserved. Liverworts, hornworts and Selaginella apparently possess a single phytochrome, whereas independent gene duplications occurred within mosses, lycopods, ferns and seed plants, leading to diverse phytochrome families in these clades. Surprisingly, the phytochrome portions of algal and land plant neochromes, a chimera of phytochrome and phototropin, appear to share a common origin. Our results reveal novel phytochrome clades and establish the basis for understanding phytochrome functional evolution in land plants and their algal relatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Fay-Wei Li & Michael Melkonian & Carl J. Rothfels & Juan Carlos Villarreal & Dennis W. Stevenson & Sean W. Graham & Gane Ka-Shu Wong & Kathleen M. Pryer & Sarah Mathews, 2015. "Phytochrome diversity in green plants and the origin of canonical plant phytochromes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8852
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8852
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