Recently, the research team from the Institute of Plant Protection of JAAS and the research team from the University of South Carolina have jointly published an online article entitled "A vigilant gliding bird protects plants" in the internationally-renowned academic journal "Trends in Biochemical science" (IF14.264) ".

The plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) receptor NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEINS1 (NPR1) plays a critical role for plant defense against biotrophic and hemi-biotrophic pathogens.

Just like human beings, plants can be infected by a wide range of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, nematodes, fungi, and oomycetes. Upon infection by biotrophic and hemi-biotrophic pathogens, a high level of plant defense hormone SA will be induced. SA is not only necessary but also sufficient for plant immunity. Through genetic screens and biochemical studies, NPR1 was identified as a master regulator of SA signaling and a receptor of SA. Phenotypically, Arabidopsis npr1 mutants exhibited an elevated susceptibility to pathogen infection, whereas overexpression of Arabidopsis NPR1 in economically important crops provided enhanced resistance to a wide range of pathogens and stresses.

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2022.06.008