The blue light receptor CRY1 interacts with GID1 and DELLA proteins to repress gibberellin signaling and plant growth

Abstract

Improvements in plant architecture, such as reduced plant height under high-density planting, are important for agricultural production. Light and gibberellin (GA) are essential external and internal cues that affect plant architecture. In this study, we characterize the direct interaction of distinct receptors that link light and GA signaling in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We show that the light receptor CRY1 represses GA signaling through interaction with all five DELLA proteins and promotion of RGA protein accumulation in Arabidopsis. Genetic analysis shows that CRY1-mediated growth repression is achieved by means of the DELLA proteins. Interestingly, we find that CRY1 also directly interacts with the GA receptor GID1 to competitively inhibit the GID1-GAI interaction. We also show that overexpression of TaCRY1a reduces plant height and coleoptile growth in wheat and that TaCRY1a interacts with both TaGID1 and Rht1 to competitively attenuate the TaGID1-Rht1 interaction. Based on these findings, we propose that the photoreceptor CRY1 competitively inhibits the GID1-DELLA interaction, thereby stabilizing DELLA proteins and enhancing their repression of plant growth.