Immune activation reprograms growth mRNA stability to shape plant growth-defense trade-offs - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #growth-defense trade-off
- #plant immunity
- #RNA degradation
- Immune activation in plants enhances defense gene expression but suppresses growth, creating a growth-defense trade-off.
- An RNA-binding protein (PTBP3) selectively destabilizes growth-related mRNAs upon immune activation by recognizing a pyrimidine-rich RNA element.
- PTBP3 undergoes immune-induced condensation and forms an mRNA degradation hub targeting growth genes, including growth-regulating factors.
- Disrupting this pathway (by impairing PTBP3 or restoring growth gene expression) enhances disease resistance and improves growth resilience under immune stress.
- Post-transcriptional control of growth mRNA stability is a key regulatory layer in balancing growth and defense in plants.
- This mechanism suggests a strategy for achieving stronger plant immunity without constitutive defense activation.