ATG8ylation of vacuolar membrane protects plants against cell wall damage

Abstract

Vacuoles are essential for cellular metabolism and growth and the maintenance of internal turgor pressure. They sequester lytic enzymes, ions and secondary metabolites that, if leaked into the cytosol, could lead to cell death. Despite their pivotal roles, quality control pathways that safeguard vacuolar integrity have remained elusive in plants. Here we describe a conserved vacuolar quality control pathway that is activated upon cell wall damage in a turgor-pressure-dependent manner. Cell wall perturbations induce a distinct modification-ATG8ylation-on the vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) that is regulated by the V-ATPase and ATG8 conjugation machinery. Genetic disruption of tonoplast ATG8ylation impairs vacuolar integrity, leading to cell death. Together, our findings reveal a homeostatic pathway that preserves vacuolar integrity upon cell wall damage.

Published in

Nature Plants
2025
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO

SLU Authors

• Minina, Alyona

  • Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Botany
Cell Biology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-01907-z

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141736