OsMADS55 nuclear translocation enhances OsATL15-mediated thiamethoxam uptake in rice for controlling the brown...

Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to respond to the absorption and transport of external substances. Transcription factors (TFs) play pivotal roles in regulating the expression of genes involved in the transport of various substances in plants. However, how TFs coordinate the initiation of key transcriptional networks involved in cellular localization/transport in response to pesticide uptake and translocation in rice remains largely unclear. In this study, we report OsMADS55 (SVP-group MADS-box transcription factor 55), a membrane-anchored TF that interacts with the thiamethoxam (THX) transporter OsATL15 at the plasma membrane (PM) and acts as a negative regulator. The OsMADS55 mutant enhances the uptake and translocation of THX, thereby improving brown planthopper control. Interestingly, we found that upon exposure to THX, OsMADS55 translocates from the PM to the nucleus, where it dissociates from OsATL15, thereby increasing the availability of OsATL15 at the membrane to facilitate THX uptake. Our results uncovered a mechanistic framework underlying the OsMADS55-OsATL15 module that precisely controls the uptake and translocation of THX, providing insights for improved pest management and reduced dependence on pesticides.