Citation
Phototropin Blue-Light Receptors
TL;DR
Phototropins are blue-light receptors in cell membranes
This comprehensive review details how phototropin proteins function as the molecular sensors for directional light detection. Phototropins are 'literal light turners' - proteins that sit in cell membranes and change shape when blue light photons strike them, triggering the auxin redistribution cascade.
Understanding phototropins reveals the sophistication of biological sensing systems: they don't just detect light presence but light direction, enabling the precise gradient detection that makes phototropism possible.
Key Findings from Christie & al. (2015)
- Phototropins are blue-light receptors in cell membranes
- Shape change upon light activation triggers signaling cascade
- Asymmetric phototropin activation enables directional sensing
- Multiple phototropin types enable different response sensitivities