Plants respond to changes in light with physiological or developmental changes, processes mediated by light-responsive genes. Martínez-García et al. (see the perspective by Nagatani) now clarify the molecular interactions that connect light to changes in gene transcription by showing that the activated form of phytochrome binds to a transcription factor that, in turn, binds to an element found in some light-responsive gene promoters.
Martínez-García, J.F., Huq, E., and Quail, P.H. (2000) Direct targeting of light signals to a promoter element-bound transcription factor. Science 288: 859-864. [Abstract] [Full Text]
Nagatani, A. (2000) Lighting up the nucleus. Science 288: 821-822. [Summary] [Full Text]
