Multilayered roles of COP1 in plant growth and stress responses

COP1 (CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1) is a highly conserved eukaryotic protein that functions as a central repressor in plant photomorphogenesis. As an E3 ubiquitin ligase, COP1 regulates various physiological processes by ubiquitinating and degrading specific substrates. In recent years, the multifunctionality of COP1 has garnered increasing attention, as it not only is involved in light signal transduction but also plays a critical regulatory role in plant growth and development, stress response pathways, and hormone signaling networks. Moreover, COP1 also participates in the cross-regulation of multiple signaling pathways, including light signaling, stress response, and hormone signaling, further highlighting its core position in plant environment adaptation and growth and development. This review systematically elaborates on the evolutionary conservation, structural features, and multifunctionality of COP1, with a focus on summarizing its molecular regulatory networks in growth, development, and stress responses, while exploring its potential applications in crop genetic improvement.