BBX32 Protein:
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, have found that a single protein BBX32 helps plants time their first step from darkness into light.
- BBX32 Protein is a B-box (BBX) protein (B-box plays an important role in plant growth and development).
- It helps provide leads to control the timing of seedling emergence and help maximise proper seedling establishment.
- When a seed sprouts in darkness under the soil, its stem curves into a small hook shape that protects the delicate shoot tip as it pushes upward.
- The hook needs to stay ‘closed’ until the seedling breaks through the soil and meets light.
- Ethylene is a plant hormone that builds up underground and light works together to decide exactly when the hook opens.
- ‘BBX32’ helps in plant growth regulation by keeping its first leaves folded until they emerge from the soil and thus provide crucial aid in the seedling establishment process.
- BBX32 was found to work by raising the activity of the PIF3 protein, which switched on HLS1, which kept the hook closed.
- If PIF3 was missing, BBX32 couldn’t prevent the hook from opening.