A lipid-anchored NAC transcription factor translocates into nucleus to activate GlyI gene expression involved in drought stress

Regulation of transcription factor (TF) localization is a common strategy for gene expression regulation. Wang et al. identified  a membrane-anchored TF, MfNACsa, as contributing to drought stress responses. In unstressed plants, MfNACsa is anchored to the plasma membrane through covalent-attachment of a palmitic group (a fatty acid) to a cysteine (known as S-palmitoylation). Upon drought stress, MfNACsa is de-S-palmitoylated by a thio-esterase, permitting its translocation to the nucleus. There, it induces expression of stress-responsive genes including Gly1, which is involved in glutathione homeostasis during drought. Plant Cell 10.1105/tpc.17.00044