Feifei Huang, Hongtao Lv, Feihua Wu
Advanced the concept of the 'nuclear redox code,' where the nucleus actively curates its redox environment and translates oxidative signals into cellular decisions. Summarized knowledge on nuclear redox homeostasis, oxidative modifications of nuclear proteins and chromatin, and their influence on gene expression and cell fate determination. Proposed that the nucleus integrates molecular events through hierarchical architecture to coordinate growth, development, and stress adaptation, with potential applications in developing stress-resilient crops.
Reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species (RONSs) are essential signaling molecules in plants, with their production highly compartmentalized within the cell. In this review, we advance the concept of the "nuclear redox code," a framework in which the plant cell nucleus functions as a signaling hub that actively curates its own redox environment and translates oxidative signals into cellular decisions. We summarize current knowledge on the maintenance of nuclear redox homeostasis, the oxidative modification of nuclear proteins and chromatin, and how these modifications influence gene expression, cell cycle progression, and cell fate determination. We propose that the nucleus integrates these molecular events through a hierarchical architecture, coupling transient oxidative post-translational modifications with stable chromatin marks to coordinate growth, development, and stress adaptation. We also highlight key unresolved questions and discuss how a systems-level understanding of the nuclear redox code may guide the development of stress-resilient crops.