Publications

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Journal Articles

Brassinosteroid signaling promotes sulfate uptake under sulfur deficiency in Arabidopsis

Published in New Phytologist, 2025

Sulfur (S) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. It serves as an essential component of amino acids (cysteine and methionine), vitamins, sulfatides, and coenzymes. S deficiency impairs plant productivity; yet, the molecular mechanisms regulating sulfate uptake remain poorly understood. In this study, brassinosteroid (BR) signaling was found to be activated under S deficiency, leading to the nuclear accumulation of BZR1, a central transcription factor in the BR signaling. BZR1 expression increased at both the mRNA and protein levels under S deficiency conditions. SULTR1;2, a high-affinity sulfate transporter, was identified as a direct downstream target of BZR1 through in vitro and in vivo analyses. Genetic and physiological evidence demonstrated that BZR1 promotes sulfate uptake via SULTR1;2 in a BR-dependent manner. These findings uncover a molecular mechanism by which BR signaling regulates the S deficiency response through BZR1-mediated activation of SULTR1;2. This work enhances our understanding of nutrient signaling in Arabidopsis and provides potential targets for improving S use efficiency in crops.

Recommended citation: Chen X, Yu Z, Guo W, Zhou Y, Wang C#, Wang T#. (2025). "Brassinosteroid signaling promotes sulfate uptake under sulfur deficiency in Arabidopsis." New Phytologist. 248 250-264.
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Plasma membrane-associated calcium signaling modulates zinc homeostasis in Arabidopsis

Published in Science Bulletin, 2025

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial micronutrient for all organisms, and its deficiency can significantly hamper crop yield and quality. However, the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms involved in plant Zn signal perception and transduction remains limited. In this study, we discovered that the Ca²⁺-CBL1/4/5/8/9-CIPK3/9/23/26-ZIP12 signaling module effectively responds to Zn deficiency and regulates Zn homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we determined that CIPK3/9/23/26 interact with the Zn transporter ZIP12 and phosphorylate it primarily at Ser185. This phosphorylation event was crucial for the stability of the ZIP12 protein, suggesting that it regulates the function of ZIP12 in Zn transport. Collectively, our findings identify a plasma membrane-associated calcium signaling pathway that regulates Zn homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana. This pathway represents a promising target for molecular breeding approaches aimed at developing crops with enhanced tolerance to Zn deficiency.

Recommended citation: Fang Y†, Ju C†, Javed L†, Cao C, Deng Y, Gao Y, Chen X, Sun L, Zhao Y, Wang C#. (2025). "Plasma membrane-associated calcium signaling modulates zinc homeostasis in Arabidopsis." Science Bulletin. 70 1478-1490.
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Calcium signaling in plant mineral nutrition: From uptake to transport

Published in Plant Communications, 2023

Plant mineral nutrition is essential for crop yields and human health. However, the uneven distribution of mineral elements over time and space leads to a lack or excess of available mineral elements in plants. Among the essential nutrients, calcium (Ca²⁺) stands out as a prominent second messenger that plays crucial roles in response to extracellular stimuli in all eukaryotes. Distinct Ca²⁺ signatures with unique parameters are induced by different stresses and deciphered by various Ca²⁺ sensors. Recent research on the participation of Ca²⁺ signaling in regulation of mineral elements has made great progress. In this review, we focus on the impact of Ca²⁺ signaling on plant mineral uptake and detoxification. Specifically, we emphasize the significance of Ca²⁺ signaling for regulation of plant mineral nutrition and delve into key points and novel avenues for future investigations, aiming to offer new insights into plant ion homeostasis.

Recommended citation: Wang T, Chen X, Ju C#, Wang C#. (2025). "Calcium signaling in plant mineral nutrition: From uptake to transport." Cell Host & Microbe. 4 100678.
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Nuclear transport receptor KA120 regulates molecular condensation of MAC3 to coordinate plant immune activation

Published in Cell Host & Microbe, 2023

The nucleocytoplasmic exchange is of fundamental importance to eukaryotic life and is mediated by karyopherins, a superfamily of nuclear transport receptors. However, the function and cargo spectrum of plant karyopherins are largely obscure. Here, we report proximity-labeling-based proteomic profiling of in vivo substrates of KA120, a karyopherin-β required for suppressing autoimmune induction in Arabidopsis. We identify multiple components of the MOS4-associated complex (MAC), a conserved splicing regulatory protein complex. Surprisingly, we find that KA120 does not affect the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of MAC proteins but rather prevents their protein condensation in the nucleus. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MAC condensation is robustly induced by pathogen infection, which is sufficient to activate defense gene expression, possibly by sequestrating negative immune regulators via phase transition. Our study reveals a noncanonical chaperoning activity of a plant karyopherin, which modulates the nuclear condensation of an evolutionarily conserved splicing regulatory complex to coordinate plant immune activation.

Recommended citation: Jia M, Chen X, Shi X, Fang Y, Gu Y#. (2025). "Nuclear transport receptor KA120 regulates molecular condensation of MAC3 to coordinate plant immune activation." Cell Host & Microbe. 31 1685-1699.
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Characters of light-sheet fluorescence microscope and its application. (In Chinese)

Published in Shengwu Jishu Jinzhan 生物技术进展, 2021

Conventional fluorescence microscopes are unable to meet the demand for prolonged observation of live samples with some certain fluorescence signal molecules due to their high phototoxicity, phtodamage, etc. As a novel fluorescence microscope, light sheet fluorescence microscope(LSFM) has outstanding characteristics which are different from laser scanning confocal microscope, such as the low phototoxicity, low photobleaching, low photodamage and the high spatiotemporal resolution due to its special orthogonal optical path design and efficient signal acquisition device, thus it can continuously record cells and large-scale biological tissue samples, especially for the live samples. Based on this, the imaging principle, imaging advantages, improvement and optimization process of imaging effect of LSFM and its research achievements obtained in the field of life science were summarized, focusing on the related applications in recent three years, and some representative research contents in the fields of neurobiology, developmental biology, animal cell biology and plant science were briefly introduced. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of LSFM were summarized, and its potential applications in optogenetics and multi-group studies were prospected, in order to provide researchers with systematic basic knowledge, latest research applications and potential applications in the future, and provide reference for researchers.

Recommended citation: Chen X, Li S#, Chen W, Meng Q. (2021). "Characters of light-sheet fluorescence microscope and its application." Shengwu Jishu Jinzhan 生物技术进展. 11 136-147.
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Xuanyi Chen (陈炫亦)