Originally published as Genetics Published Articles Ahead of Print on April 3, 2007.

Genetics, Vol. 176, 231-242, May 2007, Copyright © 2007
doi:10.1534/genetics.107.070359

DDB2, DDB1A and DET1 Exhibit Complex Interactions During Arabidopsis Development

Wesam M. Al Khateeb and Dana F. Schroeder1

Department of Botany, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada

1 Corresponding author: Department of Botany, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
E-mail: schroed3{at}cc.umanitoba.ca

Damaged DNA-binding proteins 1 and 2 (DDB1 and DDB2) are subunits of the damaged DNA-binding protein complex (DDB). DDB1 is also found in the same complex as DE-ETIOLATED 1 (DET1), a negative regulator of light-mediated responses in plants. Arabidopsis has two DDB1 homologs, DDB1A and DDB1B. ddb1a single mutants have no visible phenotype while ddb1b mutants are lethal. We have identified a partial loss-of-function allele of DDB2. To understand the genetic interaction among DDB2, DDB1A, and DET1 during Arabidopsis light signaling, we generated single, double, and triple mutants. det1 ddb2 partially enhances the short hypocotyl and suppresses the high anthocyanin content of dark-grown det1 and suppresses the low chlorophyll content, early flowering time (days), and small rosette diameter of light-grown det1. No significant differences were observed between det1 ddb1a and det1 ddb1a ddb2 in rosette diameter, dark hypocotyl length, and anthocyanin content, suggesting that these are DDB1A-dependent phenotypes. In contrast, det1 ddb1a ddb2 showed higher chlorophyll content and later flowering time than det1 ddb1a, indicating that these are DDB1A-independent phenotypes. We propose that the DDB1A-dependent phenotypes indicate a competition between DDB2- and DET1-containing complexes for available DDB1A, while, for DDB1A-independent phenotypes, DDB1B is able to fulfill this role.