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Engineering hormonal crosstalk to enhance serotonin/melatonin levels in rice

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanjiang Cui

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Xinyue Hou

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • An Wang

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Zhengji Shao

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Chaoqing Ding

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Wei Xie

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Longbiao Guo

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Guangheng Zhang

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Li Zhu

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Jiang Hu

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Zhenyu Gao

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Guojun Dong

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Qiang Zhang

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Qing Li

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Lan Shen

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Min Hu

    (China National Rice Research Institute)

  • Qian Qian

    (China National Rice Research Institute
    Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
    Yazhouwan National Laboratory)

  • Deyong Ren

    (China National Rice Research Institute
    Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences)

Abstract

Enhancing crop nutritional value is important for advancing sustainable human health. Serotonin (5-HT) and its derivative melatonin (MT) are versatile physiological regulators, known for their roles in sleep enhancement, anxiety reduction, and immune modulation. Here, we discover that abscisic acid (ABA) induces the biosynthesis of 5-HT. This induction depends on the regulation by Abscisic Acid Insensitive 5 (ABI5) and negatively feedback-controlled by the possible PP2Cs–SAPK2–ABI5 interaction. This feedback regulation likely involves ABA signaling crosstalk. Specifically, 5-HT modulates ABA-mediated PP2C activity, thereby influencing the SAPK2 phosphorylation. This modulation subsequently reduces the phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of ABI5, ultimately attenuating the ABA signaling cascade. The T162 and T283 residues of SAPK2 contribute to modulating ABI5 phosphorylation. Based on the crosstalk between ABA and 5-HT, we develop several rice lines with enhanced 5-HT/MT levels without compromising grain yield. These engineered rice lines hold promise for improving rice’s nutritional value and promoting the production of health-beneficial foods.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanjiang Cui & Xinyue Hou & An Wang & Zhengji Shao & Chaoqing Ding & Wei Xie & Longbiao Guo & Guangheng Zhang & Li Zhu & Jiang Hu & Zhenyu Gao & Guojun Dong & Qiang Zhang & Qing Li & Lan Shen & Min H, 2025. "Engineering hormonal crosstalk to enhance serotonin/melatonin levels in rice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65067-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65067-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zixin Zhang & Xin Zhang & Yuting Chen & Wenqian Jiang & Jing Zhang & Jiayu Wang & Yanjun Wu & Shouchuang Wang & Xiao Yang & Mingchun Liu & Yang Zhang, 2023. "Understanding the mechanism of red light-induced melatonin biosynthesis facilitates the engineering of melatonin-enriched tomatoes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Keran Zhai & Di Liang & Helin Li & Fangyuan Jiao & Bingxiao Yan & Jing Liu & Ziyao Lei & Li Huang & Xiangyu Gong & Xin Wang & Jiashun Miao & Yichuan Wang & Ji-Yun Liu & Lin Zhang & Ertao Wang & Yiwen , 2022. "NLRs guard metabolism to coordinate pattern- and effector-triggered immunity," Nature, Nature, vol. 601(7892), pages 245-251, January.
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