Entries by Ching Chan

LecRK-V and trehalose-associated immunity: a conserved defense mechanism across kingdoms

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Membrane-localized receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are essential for perceiving diverse signaling molecules, including proteins, polysaccharides, hormones, reactive oxygen species, ions, and damage-associated molecular patterns. Among the well-characterized RLKs, FLS2, EFR, and CERK1 are known to recognize bacterial and fungal molecular patterns, triggering plant immune responses. However, the Arabidopsis genome encodes approximately 600 RLKs, the majority of […]

Structural insights into PHO1: A key regulator of phosphate translocation in plants

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Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant growth, development, and reproduction. It is primarily absorbed by plant roots in the form of orthophosphate (Pi). The root-to-shoot translocation of Pi depends on a crucial xylem-loading process mediated by PHOSPHATE 1 (PHO1), a Pi efflux transporter expressed in the pericycle and xylem parenchyma cells. Mutations […]

Streamlining the immune system: How plants adapt to reduced pathogen pressure

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Although plants are sessile organisms unable to escape pathogen invasions, they are well equipped with defense mechanisms. Cell surface-localized pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) detect extracellular signals and initiate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), while nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) sense intracellular signals and trigger effector-triggered immunity (ETI). These two layers of immune signaling were long considered distinct pathways […]

Plant Science Research Weekly: February 7, 2025

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Review: Genetic engineering for carbon assimilation in plants Rubisco (Ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is the central enzyme for photosynthesis, This enzyme poorly discriminates between CO2 and O2, which limits its efficiency.  To work around this and make carbon assimilation more efficient, scientists have been employing different engineering strategies, several of which are summarized in a new review […]

Review. Unraveling plant-microbe interaction dynamics: Insights from the Tripartite Symbiosis Model

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Plants naturally interact with a diverse array of microorganisms, which influence their fitness in various ways. However, understanding these plant-microbe interactions and applying the knowledge in real-world agricultural systems has been challenging. Most experimental research focuses on bipartite systems, where a single plant species is paired with one microbial species. This oversimplification fails to capture […]

Interconnected memories: How heat stress and bacterial infection shape plant resilience

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Memory—a mysterious cognitive process that retains information over time and shapes future interpretations and actions—is not exclusive to animals. In plants, a similar phenomenon occurs where past exposure to environmental stressors is “memorized,” enabling plants to respond more effectively to subsequent challenges. This adaptive capability is exemplified by acquired thermotolerance (ATT) and systemic acquired resistance […]

Dioecious dynamics: How male and female poplars shape microbial networks under stress

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Plants actively shape the microbial community in their rhizosphere to optimize nutrient acquisition and enhance resilience against environmental stresses. Interestingly, in dioecious plants, male and female individuals play distinct ecological roles and evolve different environmental adaptability. For instance, female poplar trees tend to allocate more resources to vegetative growth and reproduction, whereas male poplars prioritize […]

BOOSTER: Unlocking photosynthetic efficiency for enhanced plant productivity

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Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process for carbon fixation and capturing light energy to drive plant growth. However, excessive sunlight can cause photodamage, which is detrimental to plant health. To protect the photosynthetic machinery from over-excitation and subsequent damage, plant cells employ a sophisticated mechanism to regulate the distribution of excitation energy between the reaction […]

A “GAME” changer in plant secondary metabolism

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Cholesterol, an essential structural component of membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones, serves as a key metabolite at the interface of primary and secondary metabolism. However, the mechanisms regulating the balance between its diverse downstream metabolic pathways remain poorly understood. One well-known example of cholesterol-derived secondary metabolites is steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs). SGAs are potent […]