COP1 can be hijacked by photoreceptors via their VP motifs (EMBO J)

Plant development is characterized by a high degree of plasticity in response to light. Light‐activated plant photoreceptors bind and inhibit the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1, thus protecting downstream transcription factors from degradation. However, the detailed mechanisms of how COP1 can function between upstream photoreceptors and downstream targets is enigmatic. Recently Lau et al. found that the activated UVR8 and cryptochrome photoreceptors and their signaling components compete for COP1. This process is mediated by a conserved VP peptide motif on them, allowing photoreceptors to displace the downstream targets from COP1 in a light-dependent manner. This VP peptide-based competition suggests that COP1 may utilize sophisticated mechanisms to coordinately regulate the transcription of specific genes under different type of light. (Summarized by Nanxun Qin) EMBO J. 10.15252/embj.2019102140