Release of a ubiquitin brake activates OsCERK1-triggered immunity in rice. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38750355/)

These scientists wanted to understand how plants defend themselves against harmful microorganisms. They found that a specific protein called OsCIE1 in rice acts like a brake to stop another important protein, OsCERK1, from becoming too active.

During normal times when there are no threats, OsCIE1 puts a tag called ubiquitin on OsCERK1, which slows down its activity. But when the plant detects a harmful microorganism, OsCERK1 becomes more active and stops OsCIE1 from putting on more ubiquitin tags. This allows OsCERK1 to work better and help the plant fight off the invader.

The scientists also discovered that a small change in OsCIE1 caused by OsCERK1 helps to release the brake, allowing the plant's immune system to work better. This discovery is important because it shows how plants can regulate their defenses in response to threats.

Wang G., Chen X., Yu C., Shi X., Lan W., Gao C., Yang J., Dai H., Zhang X., Zhang H., Zhao B., Xie Q., Yu N., He Z., Zhang Y., Wang E. Release of a ubiquitin brake activates OsCERK1-triggered immunity in rice. Nature. 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07418-9.