Light regulated expression of sensor histidine kinase CKI1 controls cytokinin related development

In plants, the multistep phosphorelay (MSP) pathway mediates a range of regulatory processes, including those activated by cytokinins. The crosstalk between cytokinin response and light is known for a long time. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the interactionbetween light and cytokinin signaling remains elusive. In the screen for upstream regulators we identified a LONG PALE HYPOCOTYL (LPH) gene whose activity is indispensable for spatiotemporally correct expression of CYTOKININ INDEPENDENT-1 (CKI1), encoding the constitutively active sensor histidine kinase that activates MSP signaling. lph is a new allele of HEME OXYGENASE 1 (HY1) which encodes the key protein in the biosynthesis of phytochromobilin, a cofactor of photoconvertiblephytochromes. Our analysis confirmed the light-dependent regulation oftheCKI1 expression pattern. We show that CKI1 expression is under the control of phytochrome A (phyA), functioning as a dual (both positive and negative) regulator of CKI1 expression, presumably via the phyA-regulated transcription factors PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 3 (PIF3) and CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1). Changes in CKI1 expression observed in lph/hy1-7 and phy mutants correlatewithmisregulation of MSP signaling, changedcytokinin sensitivity and developmental aberrations,previously shown to be associated with cytokinin and/or CKI1 action. Besides that, we demonstrate novel role of phyA-dependent CKI1 expression in the hypocotyl elongation and hook development during skotomorphogenesis. Based on these results, we propose that the light-dependent regulation of CKI1 provides a plausible mechanistic link underlying the well-known interaction between light- and cytokinin-controlled plant development.