Network modelling unravels mechanisms of crosstalk between ethylene and salicylate signalling in potato

Potato is susceptible to many pathogens. To facilitate breeding programs, Ramšak et al. combined transcriptomic data from potato/virus interactions with a defense network model developed mainly from Arabidopsis. Their model revealed a previously undescribed interaction between ethylene and salicylate signalling, involving the direct transcriptional regulation of NPR1 by EIN3, indicating that transcriptional as well as post-transcriptional regulation of NPR1 contributes to immune signalling. This interaction was functionally validated in potato as well as Arabidopsis. (Summary by Mary Williams) Plant Physiol.10.1104/pp.18.00450