Synthesis of the early light-inducible protein is controlled by blue light and related to light stress

The early light-inducible proteins (ELIPs) are expressed in developing plants in the first hours of the greening process. Here we report that strong light causing photoinhibition of photosynthesis also induces ELIP transcription and accumulation of the protein in mature green pea plants. Accumulation of ELIP transcript is induced in plants exposed to light intensities above 500 E/m2.s (E, einstein) and is maximal at approximately 1500 E/m2.s. The ELIP mRNA level increases in correlation with the degree of photoinhibition. The increase in ELIP level in the thylakoid membranes parallels the decrease in the amount of D1 protein of the photosystem II reaction center. Examination of ELIP induction as a function of light quality demonstrates that ELIP transcription is specifically induced by blue (410-480 nm) but not by red or far-red light. The level of blue light-induced ELIP transcript is significantly repressed by low-intensity red light. However, the accumulation of ELIP translation product is related to the total amount of blue and red light energy absorbed.