IISER MOHALI

Abstract: BBX proteins are transcriptional regulators that contain one or two zinc-ligating B-boxes at their N-terminal ends. In Arabidopsis there are 32 BBX proteins. These proteins play a variety of roles in light-regulated development in plants including photomorphogenesis, flowering, shade avoidance and thermomorphogenesis. They also mediate crosstalk with hormones like ABA. This talk will provide an overview of the manifold roles of BBX proteins in regulating early seedling development. This includes functions like cotyledon opening, seedling emergence from underneath the soil and greening. I will also discuss some recent findings about how light and ABA interact to regulate post-germination development. Eventually, I will talk about the serendipitous identification of a BBX protein in enhancing UV-B tolerance and how it has led to the generation of a bioformulation for UV-B protection.