Devrani Mitra

Abstract The blue light photoreceptor cum transcription factors, Aureochromes (Aureos), are present exclusively in photosynthetic stramenopiles. Co-existence of Light Oxygen Voltage (LOV) and basic leucine zipper (bZIP) is unique to Aureos and therefore ideal to study light-dependent DNA binding or, transcriptional regulation. Further, the inverse effector-sensor topology of Aureos, resembling several sensory eukaryotic transcription factors, makes them prototypical optogenetic scaffolds.

Abstract The sensory transcription factors carry out gene expression in response to external stimuli like light. Further, they can be used in synthetic biological circuits to manipulate gene expression and thus can alter behavioral responses effectively. In this study, we characterize blue light responsive photoreceptor transcription factor, Aureochrome (ToAureo1), from photosynthetic marine diatom Thalassiosira oceanica.

Abstract Differing conformational structure of a protein, associated with two distinct signaling states or between ligand-free and ligand-bound states, leads to differing inter-residue interactions and, consequently different biological function. We propose a fresh first-principles information-theoretic approach for studying such proteins and their interactions.