Variety of Photoreceptor in Plants and the Photoreception Mechanism

Plants photoreceptors are divided into two groups, well-known phytochromes and blue-light receptors, such as cryptochromes and phototropins. Regarding one of the later, we proved the role of the LOV domains in the kinase photoactivation. In addition to the plant phytochromes, many bacteriophytochromes have been found in both photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms. One of them has been found to undergo not red/far-red but blue/green photoreversible transformaion. Furthermore, new members of blue-light receptors, FKF1 families and BULF photoreceptors, have been found. Their structures and functions are reviewed.