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Phosphoproteomic Strategy for Profiling Osmotic Stress Signaling in Arabidopsis
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KRP3 Stability Controls Rice Plant Architecture and Productivity via MPK3-Mediated Phosphorylation.
Gopal Banerjee1, Sarvesh Jonwal1, Balakrishnan Rengasamy1
1BRIC-National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India.
Plant Biotechnology Journal
|October 13, 2025
Summary
Researchers identified KRP3, a key gene regulating rice plant architecture and yield. MPK3-mediated phosphorylation stabilizes KRP3, balancing cell division and elongation to enhance plant growth and grain production.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Genetics
- Agronomy
Background:
- Plant yield in cereal crops is influenced by tiller number, seed number, and seed weight.
- Understanding genetic regulators is crucial for improving crop productivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key regulators of rice plant architecture and yield.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling KRP3 protein stability and function.
Main Methods:
- Gene identification and characterization in rice.
- Analysis of protein stability through phosphorylation and degradation pathways.
- Investigating the role of the MPK3-KRP3 module in cell division and elongation.
Main Results:
- The orphan gene KRP3 was identified as a critical regulator of rice plant architecture.
- KRP3 protein homeostasis is essential for plant height, tiller number, and seed production.
- MPK3-mediated phosphorylation stabilizes KRP3 against ubiquitin-proteasome degradation, functioning as an S-phase checkpoint.
Conclusions:
- The MPK3-KRP3 module balances cell division and elongation, impacting rice plant vigor and yield.
- Targeting this module offers a strategy for enhancing plant growth and grain yield in rice.
- Findings provide insights into genetic improvement of cereal crops.
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