Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-07-07Epub Date: 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.05.009
Yosapol Harnvanichvech, Yuchen Long
{"title":"Balancing growth with integrity: The tangle between brassinosteroid and FERONIA.","authors":"Yosapol Harnvanichvech, Yuchen Long","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"1112-1114"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144136376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"WD40-protein-mediated crosstalk among three epigenetic marks regulates chromatin states and yield in rice.","authors":"Liwen Yang, Dongwei Li, Weijun Guo, Juqi Song, Chaofan Liu, Hanlin Liu, Cong Li, Xiaofeng Gu","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.05.016","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.05.016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although there is increasing understanding of the regulatory effects of particular epigenetic marks, much less is known about how crosstalk among multiple marks affects genetic regulation. Here, we show that Dwarf-related WD40 protein 1 (DRW1) is involved in DNA 6mA demethylation, H3K27 trimethylation, and RNA m<sup>5</sup>C methylation in rice through its respective recruitment of the DNA demethylase AlkB homolog 1 (OsALKBH1), the histone methyltransferase CURLY LEAF (OsCLF), and NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase family member 2 (OsNSUN2). Knockout of DRW1 significantly reduces the extent of chromatin occupancy by OsALKBH1, OsCLF, and OsNSUN2, resulting in increased chromatin accessibility and enhanced expression of genes associated with brassinosteroid biosynthesis and signaling. Gene editing at a CAAT-box (ATTGG→ATTGA) and a GATA motif (GATAGGG→GAT) in the DRW1 promoter leads to elevated DRW1 transcription and thereby enhanced rice grain yield and salt tolerance. In field trials, DRW1-overexpressing rice lines displayed yield increases of ∼30.2% (in both normal and saline soils), accompanied by decreases in DNA 6mA and increases in H3K27me3 and RNA m<sup>5</sup>C levels at target genes. Overall, our study uncovers DRW1-mediated crosstalk among three epigenetic marks (DNA 6mA, H3K27me3, and RNA m<sup>5</sup>C) and reveals how this crosstalk controls transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to affect rice yield and salt tolerance.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":"1143-1157"},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-07-03DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.07.001
Swati Mahiwal, Tonni Grube Andersen, Defeng Shen
{"title":"Establishment and functions of the Casparian strip.","authors":"Swati Mahiwal, Tonni Grube Andersen, Defeng Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-06-30DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.016
Joel Haywood, Karen J Breese, Daniel P McDougal, Callum Verdonk, Abigail Partridge, Adrian F Lo, Jingjing Zhang, Wen-Chao Yang, John B Bruning, Kevin J Saliba, Charles S Bond, Keith A Stubbs, Joshua S Mylne
{"title":"Structural insights into a plant-conserved DHFR-TS reveal a selective herbicide target.","authors":"Joel Haywood, Karen J Breese, Daniel P McDougal, Callum Verdonk, Abigail Partridge, Adrian F Lo, Jingjing Zhang, Wen-Chao Yang, John B Bruning, Kevin J Saliba, Charles S Bond, Keith A Stubbs, Joshua S Mylne","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Modern agricultural practices rely on herbicides to reduce yield losses. Herbicide-resistant weeds threaten herbicide utility and hence food security. New herbicide modes of action and integrated pest management practices are vital to mitigate this threat. As antimalarials targeting the bifunctional enzyme dihydrofolate reductase thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) have been shown to be herbicidal, DHFR-TS might represent a mode of action target for the development of herbicides. Here, we present the crystal structure of a DHFR-TS (AtDHFR-TS1) from the model dicot Arabidopsis thaliana. It shows a divergent DHFR active site and a linker domain that challenges previous classifications of bifunctional DHFR-TS proteins. This plant-conserved architecture enabled us to develop highly selective, herbicidal inhibitors of AtDHFR-TS1 over human DHFR and identify inhibitors with unique scaffolds via a large library virtual screen. These results suggest DHFR-TS is a viable herbicide target.</p>","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144540881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecular PlantPub Date : 2025-06-26DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.015
Huiwen Chen, Junping Fan, Cheng Chi, Jun Zhao, Di Wu, Xiaoguang Lei, Xing Wang Deng, Daohua Jiang
{"title":"Structural basis of auxin recognition and transport in plant influx carrier AUX1","authors":"Huiwen Chen, Junping Fan, Cheng Chi, Jun Zhao, Di Wu, Xiaoguang Lei, Xing Wang Deng, Daohua Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2025.06.015","url":null,"abstract":"Auxin regulates many aspects of plant growth and development, featuring polar auxin transport mediated by auxin efflux and influx carriers. AUX1 is the prominent auxin importer that actively takes up natural and synthetic auxins. However, the precise mechanisms by which AUX1 recognizes and transports auxin remain elusive. Here, we describe the cryo-electron microscopy structures of <ce:italic>Arabidopsis thaliana</ce:italic> AUX1 in apo and auxin-bound forms, revealing the structural basis for auxin recognition. AUX1 assumes the LeuT-like fold in an inward conformation. The auxin analogue 2,4-D is recognized by polar residues in the middle of AUX1. We identify a putative cation site in AUX1, which plays a role in stabilizing the inward-facing conformation. His249 undergoes a large conformational shift, and mutation of it completely abolished transport activity, suggesting a crucial role of His249 in AUX1 gating. Together, this study provides a structural foundation for a deeper comprehension of auxin influx by AUX1-like carriers.","PeriodicalId":19012,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Plant","volume":"106 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":27.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144515831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}