Rewiring an E3 ligase enhances cold resilience and phosphate use in maize - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #phosphate use efficiency
- #maize
- #cold resilience
- Cold stress and low phosphate (Pi) uptake reduce plant growth and yield.
- NLA E3 ubiquitin ligase links cold signaling to Pi homeostasis in maize.
- NLA degrades JAZ11 under cold, activating jasmonate signaling for cold tolerance.
- NLA also inhibits Pi uptake via InsP-dependent ubiquitination of Pi transporter PT4.
- A natural PT4(K267A) variant increases Pi uptake in cold conditions.
- AI-guided genome editing created nlaΔ12 allele, impairing InsP binding but retaining JAZ11 targeting.
- nlaΔ12 enhances cold resilience, phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), and yield in field trials.
- The study provides a molecular framework for engineering climate-resilient, nutrient-efficient crops.