The B-box bridge between light and hormones in plants

Abstract

Plant development is meticulously modulated by interactions between the surrounding environment and the endogenous phytohormones. Light, as an external signal coordinates with the extensive networks of hormones inside the plant to execute its effects on growth and development. Several proteins in plants have been identified for their crucial roles in mediating light regulated development. Among these are the B-box (BBX) family of transcription factors characterized by the presence of zinc-finger B-box domain in their N-terminal region. In Arabidopsis there are 32 BBX proteins that are divided into five structural groups on the basis of the domains present. Several BBX proteins play important roles in seedling photomorphogenesis, neighbourhood detection and photoperiodic regulation of flowering. There is increasing evidence that besides light signaling BBX proteins also play integral roles in several hormone signaling pathways in plants. Here we attempt to comprehensively integrate the roles of multiple BBX proteins in various light and hormone signaling pathways. We further discuss the role of the BBX proteins in mediating crosstalk between the two signaling pathways to harmonize plant growth and development. Finally, we try to analyse the conservation of BBX genes across species and discuss the role of BBX proteins in regulating economically important traits in crop plants.