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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.06.30.735533

Dynamic Patterns of Nuclear Transcription Factor Abundance in Plant Basal Immunity Revealed by Spatial Proteomics of Arabidopsis Nuclei

Abstract

O_LIThe control of amount of nuclear proteins is fundamental in regulating plant gene expression, but the mechanisms of quantitative dynamics of the nuclear proteome are largely unstudied during adaptive responses to pathogens. C_LIO_LIHighly specific labeling, enrichment and measurement of the nuclear proteome was performed using TurboID LC-MS of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves treated with the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), flg22, and/or cycloheximide. The chosen experimental approach allowed discrimination of the effects of translation, nuclear protein import, trafficking of preexisting proteins, derepression, and nuclear protein turn-over upon elicitation of basal immunity. C_LIO_LIThe highly specific, deep coverage of proteins in the nucleus makes this study a resource for anyone interested in plant nuclear proteome dynamics and defense. C_LIO_LIAround 2,000 nuclear proteins were repeatedly quantified, including more than 300 transcription factors or other proteins related to transcription. Several proteins with documented activity in endosomes were newly synthesized and imported into nuclei upon PAMP challenge, suggesting alternative nuclear functions in PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). Circadian clock components, including the transcription factor, CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1)-HIKING EXPEDITION (CHE), were depleted upon PAMP challenge, suggesting a safeguard against untimely induction of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). C_LIO_LIBased on proteomic patterns, proteins moonlighting in the nucleus as well as trafficking and turn-over regulation of the proteome are common elements during plant immunity. C_LI

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Ayash, M., Proksch, C., Thieme, D., Bauer, N., Lee, J., Heilmann, I., Hoehenwarter, W.. 2026-07-01. Dynamic Patterns of Nuclear Transcription Factor Abundance in Plant Basal Immunity Revealed by Spatial Proteomics of Arabidopsis Nuclei. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.30.735533

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