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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) to Investigate Arabidopsis thaliana Root Development at a Cell Type-Specific Scale
Published on: May 14, 2020
A small GTPase activator protein interacts with cytoplasmic phytochromes in regulating root development
Dong Ho Shin1, Man-Ho Cho, Tae-Lim Kim
1Graduate School of Biotechnology and Plant Metabolism Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 446-701.
Phytochrome-interacting ROP guanine-nucleotide exchange factor 1 (PIRF1) acts as a light-signaling switch. PIRF1 negatively regulates plant root development by interacting with phytochromes and Rho-like GTPases of plants (ROPs).
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Molecular signaling
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Phytochromes are crucial photoreceptors mediating plant responses to light.
- Phytochromes interact with partner proteins to regulate plant development.
- Phytochrome-interacting ROP guanine-nucleotide exchange factor 1 (PIRF1) is involved in light signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between PIRF1 and phytochromes.
- To elucidate the role of PIRF1 in phytochrome-mediated root development.
- To understand the regulatory mechanism of PIRF1 in plant growth.
Main Methods:
- In vitro pulldown assays
- Yeast two-hybrid assays
- Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC)
- Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants (pirf1, PIRF1-OX, phyA-211, phyB-9)
Main Results:
- PIRF1 interacts with the N-terminal domain of phytochromes via its PRONE region.
- PIRF1 activates Rho-like GTPases of plants (ROPs) in a phytochrome-dependent manner.
- PIRF1 loss-of-function mutants exhibit longer roots in darkness, while overexpression and phytochrome-null mutants show impaired root growth.
Conclusions:
- PIRF1 acts as a negative regulator in phytochrome-mediated primary root development.
- Phytochrome and ROP signaling pathways are interconnected through PIRF1.
- PIRF1 plays a critical role in regulating root growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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