Jiaqi Sun, Huanquan Zheng
Described NAC089 as an ER-localized transcription factor that acts as a molecular switch determining adaptation and cell death in plants under environmental stress. NAC089 controls these alternative outcomes under different environmental conditions. NAC089 provides insight into the balance between adaptation and cell death in plants.
Rooted in place, plants must continually balance adaptation and cell death under environmental stress. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Yang et al. demonstrate that NAC089, an ER-localized transcription factor, acts as a molecular switch that determines these alternative outcomes under different environmental conditions.