The importin-alpha superfamily engages in ethylene signaling by shuttling ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus.

ABSTRACT: Plant hormones are small molecules that modulate a plethora of growth and developmental pathways. Among these molecules, ethylene is known to modulate several important agronomical traits, including fruit ripening and senescence. However, the mechanisms, pathways, and processes of ethylene signaling from the receptors at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to the transcriptional regulators in the nucleus remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that the importin alpha superfamily of nuclear transport receptors plays a pivotal role by transporting ethylene key regulator ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 (EIN2) from the ER into the nucleus. Our findings show that importin α (impα) single- and triple-mutant seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana retain a normal ethylene response, as evidenced by the

SUBMITTER: Wynen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12871931 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature