Co-condensation with photoexcited Cryptochromes facilitates MOS4-associated complex subunits 3A/3B to antagonize HY5 activities during photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT: Cryptochromes (CRYs) is known as the key blue light receptors that promote photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis, but to date, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Through interrogating the CRY2 interactome, we identified MOS4-ASSOCIATED COMPLEX subunits 3A and 3B (MAC3A and MAC3B) as blue light-independent CRY2 interacting partners. MAC3A/B proteins could be assembled into liquid nuclear condensates of CRYs in a blue light-dependent manner. Hypocotyl elongation is markedly repressed in mac3ab double knock-out mutants under various light conditions, which uncovers a previously unknown role of MAC3A/B as negative regulators in plant photomorphogenesis. Our results also uncover the noncanonical activities of MAC3A as the DNA-binding proteins that regulate transcription. Genome-wide mapping of MAC3A-binding sites reveals that blue light facilitates the binding of MAC3A to its targets, which is weakened in cry1cry2 mutants, suggesting that CRYs may enhance MAC3A activities in blue light to negatively influence photomorphogenesis. Interestingly, we observe that the genomic binding sites of MAC3A and HY5 are largely overlapped, and physical interactions between MAC3A and HY5 are detected as well. In addition, the in vitro DNA-binding assay shows that both proteins compete for the same DNA probe. These results indicate that MAC3A may antagonize the function of HY5 by competing for the common binding sites across the genome. Taken together, we propose that cryptochromes may fine-tune Arabidopsis photomorphogenesis by balancing the positive and negative effects on HY5 activities.

ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana

PROVIDER: GSE220945 | GEO | 2023/08/21

REPOSITORIES: GEO