<P> There are several of signaling molecules that help the plant determine where the light source is coming from which helps the plant, and this activates several genes, which change the hormone gradients allowing the plant to grow towards the light . The very tip of the plant known as the coleoptile is necessary in light sensing . The middle portion of the coleoptile is the area where the shoot curvature occurs . The Cholodny--Went hypothesis, developed in the early 20th century, predicts that in the presence of asymmetric light, auxin will move towards the shaded side and promote elongation of the cells on that side to cause the plant to curve towards the light source . Auxins activate proton pumps, decreasing the pH in the cells on the dark side of the plant . This acidification of the cell wall region activates enzymes known as expansins which break bonds in the cell wall structure, making the cell walls less rigid . In addition, the acidic environment causes disruption of hydrogen bonds in the cellulose that makes up the cell wall . The decrease in cell wall strength causes cells to swell, exerting the mechanical pressure that drives phototropic movement . </P> <P> A second group of genes, PIN genes, have been found to play a major role in phototropism . They are auxin transporters, so it is thought that they are responsible for the polarization of auxin . Specifically PIN3 has been identified as the primary auxin carrier . It is possible that phototropins receive light and inhibit the activity of PINOID kinase (PID), which then promotes the activity of PIN3 . This activation of PIN3 leads to asymmetric distribution of auxin, which then leads to asymmetric elongation of cells in the stem . pin3 mutants had shorter hypocotyls and roots than the wild - type, and the same phenotype was seen in plants grown with auxin efflux inhibitors . Using anti-PIN3 immunogold labeling, movement of the PIN3 protein was observed . PIN3 is normally localized to the surface of hypocotyl and stem, but is also internalized in the presence of Brefeldin A (BFA), an exocytosis inhibitor . This mechanism allows PIN3 to be repositioned in response to an environmental stimulus . PIN3 and PIN7 proteins were thought to play a role in pulse - induced phototropism . The curvature responses in the "pin3" mutant were reduced significantly, but only slightly reduced in "pin7" mutants . There is some redundancy among "PIN1", "PIN3", and "PIN7", but it is thought that PIN3 plays a greater role in pulse - induced phototropism . </P> <P> There are phototropins that are highly expressed in the upper region of coleoptiles . The two main phototropins are phot1 and phot2 . phot2 single mutants have phototropic responses like that of the wild - type, but phot1 phot2 double mutants do not show any phototropic responses . The amounts of PHOT1 and PHOT2 present are different depending on the age of the plant and the intensity of the light . There is a high amount of PHOT2 present in mature Arabidopsis leaves and this was also seen in rice orthologs . The expression of PHOT1 and PHOT2 changes depending on the presence of blue or red light . There was a downregulation of PHOT1 mRNA in the presence of light, but upregulation of PHOT2 transcript . The levels of mRNA and protein present in the plant were dependent upon the age of the plant . This suggests that the phototropin expression levels change with the maturation of the leaves . Mature leaves contain chloroplasts that are essential in photosynthesis . Chloroplast rearrangement occurs in different light environments to maximize photosynthesis . There are several genes involved in plant phototropism including the NPH1 and NPL1 gene . They are both involved in chloroplast rearrangement . The nph1 and npl1 double mutants were found to have reduced phototropic responses . In fact, the two genes are both redundant in determining the curvature of the stem . </P> <P> In 2012, Sakai and Haga outlined how different auxin concentrations could be arising on shaded and lighted side of the stem, giving birth to phototropic response . Five models in respect to stem phototropism have been proposed, using Arabidopsis thaliana as the study plant . </P>

Explain the effects of one sided light on the tip of the plumule