Deciphering phenylalanine-derived salicylic acid biosynthesis in plants

Yukang Wang, Shuyan Song, Wenxuan Zhang, Qianwen Deng, Yanlei Feng, Mei Tao, Mengna Kang, Qi Zhang, Lijia Yang, Xinyu Wang, Changan Zhu, Xiaowen Wang, Wanxin Zhu, Yixiao Zhu, Pengfei Cao, Jia Chen, Jinheng Pan, Shan Feng, Xianyan Chen, Huaxin Dai, Shiyong Song, Jinghua Yang, Tianlun Zhao, Fangbin Cao, Zeng Tao, Xingxing Shen, Robert L. Last, Jianping Hu, Jingquan Yu, Pengxiang Fan () and Ronghui Pan ()
Additional contact information
Yukang Wang: Zhejiang University
Shuyan Song: Zhejiang University
Wenxuan Zhang: Zhejiang University
Qianwen Deng: Zhejiang University
Yanlei Feng: Zhejiang University
Mei Tao: Zhejiang University
Mengna Kang: Zhejiang University
Qi Zhang: Zhejiang University
Lijia Yang: Zhejiang University
Xinyu Wang: Zhejiang University
Changan Zhu: Zhejiang University
Xiaowen Wang: Zhejiang University
Wanxin Zhu: Zhejiang University
Yixiao Zhu: Zhejiang University
Pengfei Cao: Michigan State University
Jia Chen: Westlake University
Jinheng Pan: Westlake University
Shan Feng: Westlake University
Xianyan Chen: Zhejiang Laboratory
Huaxin Dai: Changping
Shiyong Song: Zhejiang University
Jinghua Yang: Zhejiang University
Tianlun Zhao: Zhejiang University
Fangbin Cao: Zhejiang University
Zeng Tao: Zhejiang University
Xingxing Shen: Zhejiang University
Robert L. Last: Michigan State University
Jianping Hu: Michigan State University
Jingquan Yu: Zhejiang University
Pengxiang Fan: Zhejiang University
Ronghui Pan: Zhejiang University

Nature, 2025, vol. 645, issue 8079, 208-217

Abstract: Abstract Salicylic acid (SA) is a ubiquitous plant hormone with a long history in human civilization1,2. Because of the central role of SA in orchestrating plant pathogen defence, understanding SA biosynthesis is fundamental to plant immunity research and crop improvement. Isochorismate-derived SA biosynthesis has been well defined in Arabidopsis. However, increasing evidence suggests a crucial function for phenylalanine-derived SA biosynthesis in many other plant species1. Here we reveal the phenylalanine-derived SA biosynthetic pathway in rice by identifying three dedicated enzymes — peroxisomal benzoyl-CoA:benzyl alcohol benzoyltransferase (BEBT), the endoplasmic reticulum-associated cytochrome P450 enzyme benzylbenzoate hydroxylase (BBH), and cytosolic benzylsalicylate esterase (BSE) that sequentially convert benzoyl-CoA to benzylbenzoate, benzylsalicylate and SA. The pathogen-induced gene expression pattern and SA biosynthetic functions of this triple-enzyme module are conserved in diverse plants. This work fills a major knowledge gap in the biosynthesis of a key plant defence hormone, establishing a foundation for new strategies to create disease-resistant crops.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09280-9

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