Salicylic acid engages central metabolic regulators SnRK1 and TOR to govern immunity by differential phosphorylation of NPR1.
Salicylic acid modulates plant immunity by differentially phosphorylating NPR1 through central metabolic regulators SnRK1 and TOR, with 2 key phosphorylation sites identified.
- Why it matters: Understanding how immune responses are integrated with cellular metabolism is crucial for improving disease resistance in plants, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- What they did: The study examined the post-translational modifications of NPR1 in response to salicylic acid, focusing on the roles of SnRK1 and TOR kinases and identifying specific phosphorylation sites Ser-55/59 and Ser-557.
- The result: Findings reveal that salicylic acid coordinates growth and immune responses by modulating SnRK1 and TOR activities, which control NPR1 activation through differential phosphorylation, enabling balanced defense and metabolic functions.