Photobiology

Objectives of the course (preferably expressed in terms of learning outcomes and competences):  Specific knowledge focused on the light perception, photoreceptors, light signal transduction chains and photoregulated responses in plants.

Course contents: Photons and photoregulated responses. Light perception and photoreceptors. Action spectra and characterization of the primary photoreceptors. Types of photoregulated responses (photoinduced- and HIR-responses). Photoreceptors (phytochromes and cryptochromes). Gene expression and regulation of phytochromes. Functional models of PHYA and PHYB. Molecular structure and function of cryptochromes (CRY1, CRY2/PHH1 & NPH1). Light induced signal transduction chains. Photoreceptors interactions. Photoregulated metabolic pathways. Photomorphogenesis (germination, de-etiolation, shade avoidance, “end of day” response, flowering). Phototropism. The physiology and molecular bases of the plant circadian clock. Synthetic photoreceptors. Biotechnological applications.