Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42151485›Full record

ArticleThe EMBO journal2026

A new plant SUMO ligase, MPEL1, synergizes with MAPK16 to regulate resistance against Fusarium pathogens.

Xuanjun Feng, Weixiao Zhang, Huarui Guan, Haolan Yang, Na Wu, Yuting Chen, Xin Mao, Huihui Xiao, Mengling Li, Hao Xiong and 14 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The EMBO journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Xuanjun Feng *State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3800-4029
Weixiao Zhang *Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8096-1826
Huarui GuanMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Haolan YangState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Na WuState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Yuting ChenState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Xin MaoMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Huihui XiaoState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Mengling LiMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Hao XiongMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-6666-7543
Yinzhi LiMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Zhaoyu ZhangState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Muyan LiuMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Li JiaMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Shuang ChaState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Yizhen SheState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Xuemei ZhangMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Haicheng LiaoMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9966-8451
Guangchao SunMaize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Yaxi LiuState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Wenming WangState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China.
Yunbi XuPeking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261325, China.
Yuelin ZhangKey Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
Yanli LuState Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130, China. luyanli@sicau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1894-9156

Funding

MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 2021YFD1200700MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 2022YFD1201500MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 2023YFF1001500MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 2023ZD04029MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 32030078MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 32372146MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) U21A20209Open Project Program of State Key Laboratary for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production SKLCSRHPKF2026007SPDST | Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province () 2023NSFSC0221SPDST | Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province () 2024NSFSC0334SPDST | Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province () 2025NSFSC0251
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

SUMOylation is critical for plant growth and defense, and the specific substrate recognition mediated by SUMO ligases dictates the biological processes in which SUMOylation functions. However, only four SUMO ligases involved in SUMOylation have been reported in plants. Here, we report MPEL1 as a new SUMO ligase in maize, which paradoxically exhibits SUMO ligase activity despite its sequence homology to SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbL). MPEL1 stabilizes the plant-specific mitogen-activated protein kinase 16 (MAPK16) via SUMOylation at Lys526 within C-terminal domain (CTD). MAPK16 directly binds to JAZ20 via its C-terminal domain and phosphorylates JAZ20 at Thr12/Ser13 residues, thereby triggering its proteasomal degradation and activating broad-spectrum resistance against two Fusarium pathogens. These pathogens cause devastating maize ear rot and stalk rot, leading to severe yield losses and serious food safety concerns worldwide. Notably, MAPK16 overexpression and JAZ20 knockout enhance disease resistance without yield penalty, highlighting their potential for crop improvement. These findings expand the plant SUMO ligase family and provide targets for breeding Fusarium-resistant crops.

Indexed as

Disease ResistanceFusariumLigasesMitogen-Activated Protein KinasesPlant DiseasesPlant ProteinsZea maysSumoylationLigasesMitogen-Activated Protein KinasesPlant Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42151485
PMCPMC13324008

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.