Plant photobiology in the last half-century

Blue-light induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species is a consequence of the Drosophila cryptochrome photocycle

Cryptochromes are evolutionarily conserved blue-light absorbing flavoproteins which participate in many important cellular processes including in entrainment of the circadian clock in plants, Drosophila and humans. Drosophila melanogaster cryptochrome (DmCry) absorbs light through a flavin (FAD) cofactor that undergoes photoreduction to the anionic radical (FAD•-) redox state both in vitro and in vivo. However, recent efforts to link this photoconversion to the initiation of a biological response have remained controversial. Here, we show by kinetic modeling of the DmCry photocycle that the fluence dependence, quantum yield, and half-life of flavin redox state interconversion are consistent with the anionic radical (FAD•-) as the signaling state in vivo. We show by fluorescence detection techniques that illumination of purified DmCry results in enzymatic conversion of molecular oxygen (O2) to reactive oxygen species (ROS). We extend these observations in living cells to demonstrate transient formation of superoxide (O2•-), and accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the nucleus of insect cell cultures upon DmCry illumination. These results define the kinetic parameters of the Drosophila cryptochrome photocycle and support light-driven electron transfer to the flavin in DmCry signaling. They furthermore raise the intriguing possibility that light-dependent formation of ROS as a byproduct of the cryptochrome photocycle may contribute to its signaling role.

The phytotronist and the phenotype: plant physiology, Big Science, and a Cold War biology of the whole plant

This paper describes how, from the early twentieth century, and especially in the early Cold War era, the plant physiologists considered their discipline ideally suited among all the plant sciences to study and explain biological functions and processes, and ranked their discipline among the dominant forms of the biological sciences. At their apex in the late-1960s, the plant physiologists laid claim to having discovered nothing less than the "basic laws of physiology." This paper unwraps that claim, showing that it emerged from the construction of monumental big science laboratories known as phytotrons that gave control over the growing environment. Control meant that plant physiologists claimed to be able to produce a standard phenotype valid for experimental biology. Invoking the standards of the physical sciences, the plant physiologists heralded basic biological science from the phytotronic produced phenotype. In the context of the Cold War era, the ability to pursue basic science represented the highest pinnacle of standing within the scientific community. More broadly, I suggest that by recovering the history of an underappreciated discipline, plant physiology, and by establishing the centrality of the story of the plant sciences in the history of biology can historians understand the massive changes wrought to biology by the conceptual emergence of the molecular understanding of life, the dominance of the discipline of molecular biology, and the rise of biotechnology in the 1980s.

New concepts in therapeutic photomedicine: photochemistry, optical targeting and the therapeutic window

Advances in optics technology, synthetic photochemistry, and the science of photobiology make it possible to think beyond phototherapy and photochemotherapy which is dependent on direct photochemical alteration of metabolites or direct phototoxic insult to cells. This report discusses another gender of photomedicine therapy which includes in vivo photoactivation of medicines, photon-dependent drug delivery, and manipulation of host and exposure source to maximize therapeutic index. These therapeutic manipulations are made possible because the skin is highly overperfused and because non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation that enters skin and blood has adequate photon energy to cause electronic excitation. Radiation of 320-800 nm is not very directly phototoxic, is absorbed by a variety of relatively nontoxic photolabile molecules and has an internal dosimetric depth profile. This radiation can therefore be used to activate, deactivate, bind, release or biotransform medications in vivo in skin or other organs. The photochemist, synthetic chemist and photobiologist can collaborate to significantly increase therapeutic possibilities.

Control of Leaf and Stem Growth in Light-grown Pea Seedlings by Two High Irradiance Responses

The control exerted by light on leaf and stem growth in light-grown Alaska pea seedlings was studied during the main photoperiod. Two high irradiance responses were observed. The action spectrum for one had a single sharp peak at 600 nanometers. The action spectrum for the other showed a broad peak between 440 and 470 nanometers. These two light responses must be activated simultaneously for any inhibition of stem growth or promotion of leaf growth. Both action spectra may be explained in terms of the high irradiance response of phytochrome.

Photoperiodism and the photic environment of the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii

Wyeomyia smithii Coq. (Diptera: Culicidae) overwinters as a larva in a state of diapause which is initiated, maintained, and terminated by photoperiod. Both in the dawn and in the dusk, diapausing larvae are photoperiodically most sensitive to blue light (390-450 nm) with a shoulder in response in the bluegreen and green (480-540 nm) region of the spectrum. The saturation curves for response to blue light in the dusk has a steeper slope than for response to blue-green and green light in the dusk, suggesting two distinct pigments or pigment complexes underly photoperiodic response in W. smithii.The photic environment of W. smithii during twilight is rich in yellow-green light but sufficient light is available at 390-540 nm to trigger photoperiodic response early during morning civil twilight and to sustain response until late in evening civil twilight. Comparison of action spectra with spectra of available light indicates that the zenith angles of the sun which would result in 50% response are 95°48' and 94°52' in the dawn and dusk, respectively. Using these zenith angles to approximate daylength in nature provides a resonable prediction of development in the field.The flux density of photons necessary to elicit 50% development a 454 nm is about 9×10⁷ photons/cm² s in the dawn and 3×10⁸ photons/cm² s in the dusk. This high degree of sensitivity enables W. smithii to cue to the rapidly changing light intensity which occurs around the nautical-civil twilight transition. At the same time, the chromophore is not likely to be stimulated by the light of the full moon.

Phytochrome-mediated changes in the membrane potential of subepidermal cells of Lemna paucicostata 6746

Light-stimulated transmembrane potential changes have been measured continuously after implantation of microelectrodes into subepidermal cells of the short-day plant Lemna paucicostata 6746. Irradiation for 5 min with white or red light caused a transient hyperpolarization. These potential changes could be suppressed with 10(-6) M DCMU. Irradiation of DCMU-inhibited plants with far-red light for 5 min hyperpolarized the membrane potential, which thereafter was not changed by further far-red application. Consecutive red light irradiation for 5 min depolarized the membrane potential. The red/far-red reversibility of the potential changes (which could be repeated several times with a single plant) suggests the participation of phytochrome.

Characterization of a Membrane Fraction Containing a b-type Cytochrome

The various components obtained from etiolated corn (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles were fractionated by differential or sucrose gradient centrifugation. The endoplasmic reticulum, proplastids, Golgi, and mitochondria were localized by enzymic or other markers in the various fractions. A fifth fraction was also characterized. It contains glucan synthetase II activity, binding sites for N-naphthylphthalamic acid, NADH dehydrogenase activity which is both antimycin A- and cyanide-insensitive, and a b-type cytochrome. It is possible that this fraction is plasma membrane and that it may contain the blue-ultraviolet photoreceptor for phototropism in corn.