Title: A FOND FAREWELL TO NANCY ECKARDT THE PLANT CELL SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR On the cover: This cover of The Plant Cell pays tribute to Senior Features Editor Nancy (Nan) Eckardt, who is retiring after 24 years with ASPB and The Plant Cell. See our editorial on p. 4673. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae241. Image credit: Cover photo by Nan Eckardt; Parry’s primrose (Primula parryi), growing at 11,600 feet in Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Nan’s home state.
PNAS:日本科学家发现调控拟南芥种子休眠的新机制
种子的休眠是一个重要的性状，分为出生休眠和次生休眠。本研究通过Quantitive Trait Locus (QTL)分析，发现 MKK3 kinase参与了拟南芥的次生休眠调控过程，这个激酶功能模块包括了MAP3K13/14/19/20, MKK3, clade-C MAPKs.
在热胁迫条件下，上述功能模块负调控种子的次生休眠过程，而且对释放休眠过程的硝态氮信号不敏感。
作者发现MPK7 在种子休眠解除过程中被激活，尤其是该基因响应光和硝态氮信号，该激酶在 map3k13/14/19/20 and mkk3 mutants中失活.
最后作者证实上述激酶途径的功能不受ABA和GA信号调控，同时也不调控ABA和GA信号途径。
小结： 本研究揭示了MAPK module调控种子次生休眠的机制。
原文：The MKK3 module integrates nitrate and light signals to modulate secondary dormancy in Arabidopsis thaliana
