CDC48 regulates immunity pathway in tobacco plants.

The CDC48 protein, highly conserved in the living kingdom, is a player of the ubiquitin proteasome system and contributes to various cellular processes. In plants, CDC48 is involved in cell division, plant growth and, as recently highlighted in several reports, in plant immunity. In the present study, to further extend our knowledge about CDC48 functions in plants, we analysed the incidence of its overexpression on tobacco development and immune responses.

CDC48 in plants and its emerging function in plant immunity.

Protein homeostasis, namely the balance between protein synthesis and degradation, must be finely controlled to ensure cell survival, notably through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). In all species, including plants, homeostasis is disrupted by biotic and abiotic stresses. A key player in the maintenance of protein balance, the protein CDC48, shows emerging functions in plants, particularly in response to biotic stress.