synthesis in response to blue light. The remarkable
feature of this blue light response in N. crassais that
it involves only two protein components and a very
short signaling cascade.
Ordinarily, the blue-light-regulated genes that
induce carotenoid synthesis in N. crassaare downregu-
lated after about 2 hours – a phenomenon termed photo-
adaptation. But another mutant gene, termed vivid,
causes a sustained expression of carotenoid genes in the
light (hence its name, “vivid”). Analysis of the VIVID
protein, which is located in the cytoplasm rather than
the nucleus, showed that it also binds to a flavin-type
chromophore and that it represents a second blue
light photoreceptor (Linden 2002). The VIVID protein
seems to be involved particularly in responses to dif-
ferent light intensities, and in modulating the circadian
clock. Thus, there seems to be a dual light-perception
system, with at least two photoreceptors that serve
different roles. Initial light perception, involving
WC-1/WC-2, is responsible for dark-to-light transitions.
A second system involving VIVID enables Neurosporato
detect changes in light intensity, and thereby regulate
the production of carotenoids for protection against
photodamage (Schwerdtfeger & Linden 2003).
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