From UV-B to Far-Red Light, a Variety of Plant Photoreceptors

Immovable plants see the light condition precisely to adjust themselves to their environment. For this purpose, plants have acquired a variety of photoreceptors in a wide spectral range from UV-B to far-red light. Phytochrome, a red- and far-red reversible photochromic receptor, regulates photomorphogenetic responses. Cryptochrome, a blue light receptor, plays similar roles to those of phytochrome. Phototropin, a member of LOV blue light receptor families, serves to maximize photosynthetic activities by regulating phototropic responses, chloroplast movements, stomata opening, etc. Furthermore, UVR8 senses UV-B light. Molecular bases for the light-signal reception of these photoreceptors are reviewed.