Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Investigating Tissue- and Organ-specific Phytochrome Responses using FACS-assisted Cell-type Specific Expression Profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Published on: May 29, 2010
Photoreceptor ubiquitination by COP1 E3 ligase desensitizes phytochrome A signaling
Hak Soo Seo1, Etsuko Watanabe, Satoru Tokutomi
1Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Abstract:
Desensitization of activated receptors is an important mechanism for terminating signal transduction. Here we show that phytochrome (phy) A, a predominant photoreceptor for seedling deetiolation, colocalizes in nuclear bodies with CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC (COP) 1, a RING motif-containing E3 ligase. The phyA PAS domain interacts with the COP1 WD40 domain. Both the Pr and the Pfr forms of phyA, as well as the PHYA apoprotein, are ubiquitinated by COP1 in vitro. The phyA destruction rate is decreased in cop1 mutants and by expression of a COP1 RING motif mutant. Our results indicate that COP1 acts as an E3 ligase to regulate phyA signaling by targeting elimination of the phyA photoreceptor itself.
More Related Videos
07:55Luciferase Complementation Imaging Assay in Nicotiana benthamiana Leaves for Transiently Determining Protein-protein Interaction Dynamics
Published on: November 20, 2017
14:13Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping
Published on: October 24, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Cell Signaling in Plants
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
GPCR Desensitization
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...