A pathogen effector HaRxL10 hijacks the circadian clock component CHE to perturb both plant development and immunity

Mengyao Fu, Yaoyu Zhou, Xin Zhang, Keyi Yang, Yufeng Xu, Xingwei Wang, Zhaodan Chen, Yu Wang, Yabo Shi, Lin Ma, Hanguang Liu, Yuhua Deng, Shujing Cheng, Jinfang Chu, Jingyi Song, Tongjun Sun, Yuanchao Wang, Wei Wang and Mian Zhou ()
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Mengyao Fu: Capital Normal University
Yaoyu Zhou: Capital Normal University
Xin Zhang: Capital Normal University
Keyi Yang: Capital Normal University
Yufeng Xu: Capital Normal University
Xingwei Wang: Peking University
Zhaodan Chen: Nanjing Agricultural University
Yu Wang: Capital Normal University
Yabo Shi: Peking University
Lin Ma: Capital Normal University
Hanguang Liu: Capital Normal University
Yuhua Deng: Peking University
Shujing Cheng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jinfang Chu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jingyi Song: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Tongjun Sun: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Yuanchao Wang: Nanjing Agricultural University
Wei Wang: Peking University
Mian Zhou: Capital Normal University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Abstract The intertwining between the life cycle of plants and their pathogens made the plant circadian clock an integral constituent of the plant immune system. Reciprocally, pathogens were also found to perturb the expression pattern of certain clock genes. However, how pathogens influence clock components remains largely unknown. Here we show that an oomycete effector HaRxL10 directly targets Arabidopsis central clock component CCA1 HIKING EXPEDITION (CHE) to manipulate its function. HaRxL10 stabilises CHE by disrupting E3 ligase ZEITLUPE-mediated CHE protein degradation. Surprisingly, the accumulation of CHE does not enhance but rather suppresses CHE function, inhibiting its binding to the downstream gene promoter. HaRxL10 triggers reprogramming of the transcriptome including expression of genes related to circadian oscillations. Moreover, HaRxL10 hijacks CHE to repress plant immunity and manipulate physiological processes, including hypocotyl growth and flowering. Taken together, our study discovers the first plant pathogen effector that directly targets a plant circadian clock component and elucidates the underlying molecular mechanism.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56787-w

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