Trends in Plant Science最新文献

In a recent study to identify arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genes involved in maintaining normal leaf microbiota, Cheng et al. discovered TIP GROWTH DEFECTIVE1 (TIP1) encoding an S-acyltransferase. The tip1 mutant exhibits abnormal microbiota levels and phenotypes resembling autoimmune mutants. Further study revealed the existence of both microbiota-dependent and -independent autoimmunity in plants.

Epitranscriptomic regulation has emerged as a crucial layer of gene control where RNA modifications, particularly N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), introduce complexity and versatility to gene regulation. Increasing evidence suggests that epitranscriptomic regulation through phase separation plays critical roles in mediating RNA metabolism during plant development and stress responses. m⁶A-associated biomolecular condensates formed via phase separation act as dynamic cellular hotspots where m⁶A effectors, RNAs, and other regulatory proteins coalesce to facilitate RNA regulation. Moreover, m⁶A modulates condensate assembly. Herein, I summarize the current understanding of how m⁶A- and m⁶A effector-mediated formation of biomolecular condensates mediates plant development and stress adaptation. I also discuss several working models for m⁶A-associated biomolecular condensates and highlight the prospects for future research on epitranscriptomic regulation through phase separation.

Plant immunity involves a complex and finely tuned response to a wide variety of pathogens. Alternative splicing, a post-transcriptional mechanism that generates multiple transcripts from a single gene, enhances both the versatility and effectiveness of the plant immune system. Pathogen infection induces alternative splicing in numerous plant genes involved in the two primary layers of pathogen recognition: pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI). However, the mechanisms underlying pathogen-responsive alternative splicing are just beginning to be understood. In this article, we review recent findings demonstrating that the interaction between pathogen elicitors and plant receptors modulates the phosphorylation status of splicing factors, altering their function, and that pathogen effectors target components of the host spliceosome, controlling the splicing of plant immunity-related genes.

TANDEM ZINC-FINGER/PLUS3 (TZP) is a nuclear-localized protein with multifaceted roles in modulating plant growth and development under diverse light conditions. The unique combination of two intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), two zinc-fingers (ZFs), and a PLUS3 domain provide a platform for interactions with the photoreceptors phytochrome A (phyA) and phyB, light signaling components, and nucleic acids. TZP controls flowering and hypocotyl elongation by regulating gene expression and protein abundance in a blue, red, or far-red light-specific context. Recently, TZP was shown to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation through its IDRs, thus promoting phyA phosphorylation. Collectively, TZP is an emerging regulator of diverse light signaling pathways; therefore, understanding its biochemical function in integrating environmental signaling networks is key for optimizing plant adaptation.

Abscisic acid (ABA) transport in plants is necessary to regulate developmental plasticity and responses to environmental signals. Plants use ABA exporter ATP-binding cassette G25 (ABCG25) to control ABA homeostasis. Three recent papers (Huang et al., Ying et al., and Xin et al.) have revealed the structure and transport mechanism of ABCG25.

Genetic factors and infectious pathogens that cause plant diseases have a major impact on agricultural production. In recent years, the potential of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) system in nucleic acid analysis and plant disease diagnostics has been demonstrated. We highlight progress of CRISPR/Cas technology that is significant for monitoring plant growth and preventing diseases.

Biotic and abiotic stresses constrain plant growth worldwide. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms contributing to plant resilience is key to achieving food security. In recent years, proteins containing dopamine β-monooxygenase N-terminal (DOMON) and/or cytochrome b561 domains have been identified as important regulators of plant responses to multiple stress factors. Recent findings show that these proteins control the redox states of different cellular compartments to modulate plant development, stress responses, and iron homeostasis. In this review, we analyze the distribution and structure of proteins with DOMON and/or cytochrome b561 domains in model plants. We also discuss their biological roles and the molecular mechanisms by which this poorly characterized group of proteins exert their functions.

Plants, as sessile organisms, have developed mechanisms to balance growth and defence strategies against biotic and abiotic stresses. Two recent studies by Hong et al. and Lu et al. have provided valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms that connect cell metabolism and hormonal signalling.

Recently, Santos-Júnior et al. utilized a machine learning approach to identify nearly a million novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from the global microbiome. Here we explore the untapped potential of plant- and soil-associated microbiomes as a source of novel peptides, highlighting their promising applications in advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability.