Characterization of cDNA of the Liverwort Phytochrome Gene, and Phytochrome Involvement in the Light-Dependent and Light-Independent Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase Gene Expression in Marchantia paleacea var. diptera

The cDNA of the phytochrome gene in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea var. diptera (MpdPHY1) was isolated. MpdPHY1 encoded a conventional phytochrome apoprotein. The MpdPHY1 transcript was accumulated in the dark and suppressed in the light. The degradation of the MpdPHY1 transcript by red light irradiation had red/far-red reversibility, suggesting that the liverwort phytochrome gene expression was regulated by a phytochrome. Northern blot analysis of the transcripts in cells irradiated by red/far-red light revealed that the liverwort phytochrome was involved in the expressions of chlB, chlL, chlN, or por, which encode subunits of light-independent and light-dependent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase, respectively.