Characterization of two Myb-like transcription factors binding to CAB promoters in wheat and barley

The expression pattern and level of light-regulated genes are controlled by complex regulatory networks. Expression of genes encoding chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins of photosystem II is controlled by different photoreceptors and regulated primarily at the level of transcription. Light-dependent transcription of these genes is further modulated by the circadian system, affected by a developmental program and by a variety of environmental factors such as stress. Here we report the isolation of two Myb-like transcription factors from barley, HvMCB1 and HvMCB2, that bind specifically to defined regions of CAB promoters derived from wheat and barley. Deletion and mutation analysis of the wheat CAB1 promoter suggest that HvMCB1 and HvMCB2 are required for high-level but not for light- and circadian clock-regulated expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that the induction of HvMCB1 and HvMCB2 transcription is regulated differentially by environmental factors and plastid development. These observations indicate that HvMCB1 and HvMCB2, together with other, yet unknown regulatory factors, may mediate responsiveness of CAB gene transcription to a variety of environmental and developmental signals.