The research team, which included scientists from the University of California, Berkeley and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), studied a protein called phytochrome B (phyB). This protein is found in plants and bacteria, and it is responsible for sensing the amount of light available.
The researchers found that phyB uses two different mechanisms to sense light. One mechanism involves the absorption of light by a molecule called a chromophore. The other mechanism involves the interaction of phyB with a protein called a cryptochrome.
The discovery of these two mechanisms could lead to new ways to manipulate the way that plants and bacteria sense light. This could have a number of applications, such as improving crop yields, developing new therapies for diseases that affect the eyes, and creating new biofuels.
"This discovery is a major breakthrough in our understanding of how plants and bacteria see light," said study lead author Sarah Meeks, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Biology at UC Davis. "It could have a significant impact on a number of fields, from agriculture to medicine."
The research team is continuing to study the two mechanisms by which phyB senses light. They are also investigating the role of phyB in plant growth and development.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
