SEBiology

Box 1. Key developments in understanding FtsH functions for organelle protein homeostasis in Arabidopsis The schematic illustration shows the primary and 3D structure of FtsH (A–C) and highlights recent advances in understanding the roles of plant FtsHs localized in chloroplasts (D, E, and H) and mitochondria (F and G). See paper for full description of Box 1.

📖 SPECIAL ISSUE REVIEW 📖

In this review, Wang et al. describe the protease, chaperone-like, and substrate processing working modes of plant FtsH, and summarize the role of FtsH in organelle protein homeostasis 🔄 🌱

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪

🏅 Nominations are still open for the SEB awards!

🌟 President’s Medals – celebrating outstanding young scientists
www.sebiology.org/grants/award...
🗓 Deadline: 24/10/2025

🎓 Annual Lecture Awards – honouring leading scientists across biology
www.sebiology.org/grants/award...
🗓 Deadline: 31/10/2025

Fig. 1.Four classes of roles of immune proteases illustrated via examples. (i) Pathogen perception: Required for Cladosporium Resistance-3 (Rcr3) protease is inhibited by the fungal avirulence effector Avr2. The Rcr3-Avr2 complex is recognized by the immune receptor Cf-2, triggering a defence response (Kruger et al, 2002). (ii) Regulation of the immune response: METACASPASE 4 (MC4) is activated by calcium upon wounding or pathogen attack. MC4 cleaves tonoplast-located ProPEP1 releasing PEP1 to the apoplast where it is perceived by PEP RECEPTORS (PEPRs) thereby initiating defence responses (Hander et al, 2019). (iii) Counteracting pathogen effectors: soybean aspartic protease GmAP5, degrades the Phytophthora sojae virulence factor glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12) protein, XEG1 (Xia et al., 2020). (iv) Direct pathogen attack: secreted aspartic proteases (SAPs) cleave Pseudomonas syringae MucD protein thereby suppressing bacterial growth (Wang et al., 2019).

💡 SPECIAL ISSUE VIEWPOINT 💡

Immune proteases are promising targets for protein engineering 🛠️ to boost disease resistance in plants 🌾 - Schuster et al.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪 @marischuster.bsky.social @aciattoni.bsky.social

Fig. 3.AlphaFold Multimer (AFM)-predicted models of RD21-like proteases and four different inhibitors. RD21 and its orthologues are shown in a pale green surface representation with the active site (red) and inhibitors are shown in light blue as cartoon and lines with disulfides and interface residues shown as sticks. AFM scores and PDB files of these models are available in Supplementary Table S1 and Supplementary Dataset S1, respectively.

📖 SPECIAL ISSUE REVIEW 📖

🛡️ RD21-like proteases act in immunity and are targeted by unrelated effectors produced by a diverse range of plant pathogens throughout the plant kingdom - Huang & van der Hoorn 📝

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪

Using AI in student assessment, marking, and feedback Nigel Francis and Jordon Millward will discuss their work on AI in student assessment, marking, and feedback, followed by an open floor for audience discussion. The first webinar in our new Outreach E...

How can AI reshape assessment in higher education without compromising fairness?

Join us on 15 Oct for the OED Webinar: AI in Assessment, Marking & Feedback, featuring Nigel Francis & Jordon Millward.
Free, online, includes audience Q&A.

Register:
www.sebiology.org/events/ems-e...

🌟 Your success deserves the spotlight!

We’re inviting SEB members only to promote their work in the upcoming Autumn 2025 Magazine.

Whether it’s research, awards, funding or media coverage, let us celebrate your story.

More information:
www.sebiology.org/resource/pro...

Benefits of publishing with us Across our journals the meridian acceptance to publication is 17 days

We understand that fast dissemination of your work is essential. This is why our Production team work tirelessly to get accepted papers out into the community, with a median acceptance to publication time of 17 days across our journals. https://ow.ly/lQw950X4Stx

Deadline is fast approaching !

Community Conversations: Webinars for building a career in conservation physiology. Speaker Dr Steven Cooke presents his "Reflections on Co-production and Impact in Conservation Physiology". The webinar is online and takes place on 5 November 2025 14:00-15:00 GMT

We're excited to announce Community Conversations, a new #webinar series in partnership with @sebiology.bsky.social 🤝 This is geared towards #EarlyCareer researchers. Our first speaker is @sjcfishy.bsky.social

Sign up here: buff.ly/MTC7R6B

#ConPhys #SEBcareers #ECR #PhD #conservation

Vol 76 Issue 15 2025 Journal of Experimental Botany Plant Proteases: Guardians of Proteome Integrity and Function Cover illustration: Proteases play key roles in guarding proteome integrity and regulating protein function. The reviews and research articles in this special issue put a timely spotlight on the fascinating diversity, function and regulation of proteases in plants. Selected topics rise as bubbles above University of Hohenheim, where they were first presented at the 6th International Conference on Plant Proteases (photo courtesy of Universität Hohenheim/Maximilian Pircher; logo by Renier van der Hoorn). See Jeran et al., pp. 4294–4312; Peiyi Wang et al., pp. 4359–4373; Mantz et al., pp. 4279–4293; Calvanese et al., pp. 4326–4339; Fei Wang et al., pp. 4220–4231.

📣 NEW SPECIAL ISSUE 📣

🔬Plant Proteases - Guardians of Proteome Integrity & Function
🌱 Exploring the fascinating diversity, function & regulation of proteases in plants

📘 Edited by Pitter Huesgen, Annick Stintzi & Andreas Schaller

🔗 academic.oup.com/jxb... #JXBspecialissues #PlantScience 🧪

Final call: session proposals close today for SEB Florence 2026 🚨 Deadline: 1 October 2025 🚨

🚨 Last chance! 🚨

Session proposals for SEB Florence 2026 close TODAY!

Don't miss your opportunity to shape the future of biology.

Submit now:
www.sebiology.org/resource/final-call-session-proposals-close-today-for-seb-florence-2026.html

#SEBconference #BiologyConference

Want to Stand up for Science?

Apply for your free place at Voice of Young Science workshop on 10 October 2025

More information:
bit.ly/SUfS_Edinb_25

🚨 Postdoc in evolutionary genomics of heat stress adaptation position at @ucddublin.bsky.social.
📍 Dublin, Ireland
Closes: 15th Oct 2025
🔗 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOV094/u...

Join the OED Working Group Interested in taking a more active role?

OED groups:

- Outreach

- Education

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More information
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Plant

Plant groups:

-Interaction of Plants with other Organisms
-Plant Transport
-Abiotic Stress and Climate Change
-Crop Molecular Genetics
-Photosynthesis and Metabolism
-Plant Development
-Plant Environmental Physiology
-Plant Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

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Cell

Cell groups:

- Cellular Function
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- Nuclear and Chromatin Dynamics
- Cytoskeleton and Cytosolic Organisation Group
- Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology Group

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Animal

Animal groups:

- Animal Biomechanics Group
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- Animal Respiration Group
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Session proposals closing this week for SEB Florence 2026 Annual Conference 🚨 Deadline: 1 October 2025 🚨

🚨 Session proposals are closing tomorrow for SEB Florence 2026 Annual Conference!

Deadline is tomorrows: 1 October 2025

Submit your ideas now via → www.sebiology.org/resource/ses...

💡 Want to lead a session in these areas?

Check out our special interest groups in the thread

🚨 Hurry! Only 3 days remaining to submit your session proposals for SEB Florence 2026.

Deadline: Wednesday, 1 October 2025 — time is almost up!

🔬 Organise a session, share your expertise, and help shape the future of experimental biology.

Apply now:
www.sebiology.org/resource/ses...

Do not miss the deadline for this superb opportunity

Fig. 4.Model of auxin de-repression. When the auxin concentration in the nucleus is low (A), the effect of ARFas, as well as other non-ARF transcription factors, is limited by Aux/IAA-mediated recruitment of the TPL co-repressor, closing the locus. As auxin levels rise (B), AFBs ubiquitinate Aux/IAAs, thereby allowing all transcription factors to act on the locus. As a result, there is a significant difference in gene expression between baseline and auxin induction. In afb1,2,3,4 mutants (C), Aux/IAAs are not degraded, and therefore the promoter remains closed. In the iaa2mDII degron mutant (D), one of three Aux/IAAs is stabilized, thereby resulting in only partial promoter closure. In arfasept lines, Aux/IAAs are not recruited to the promoter. While gene expression remains diminished without activating ARFs, other non-ARF transcription factors are allowed to provide baseline gene expression. However, there is no auxin-mediated induction.

🌱📖 RESEARCH 🌱📖

Bascom et al. used CRIPSR/Cas9 to produce a septuple AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR mutant in the model bryophyte Physcomitrium patens , revealing the developmental consequences of the complete loss of auxin-mediated gene activation 🌱📖

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪

SEB September 2025 Newsletter Welcome to this month's newsletter!

📰 The SEB September 2025 Newsletter is here!

Inside you’ll find:
🌍 Upcoming events & webinars

📅 Key deadlines (don’t miss session proposals for #SEBFlorence2026!)

💼 Member opportunities & funding support

📸 Highlights from recent SEB activities

👉 Dive in:
www.sebiology.org/resource/seb...

Check this out from the @inthibsoc.bsky.social

Fig. 1.GWAS of NUE-related traits in maize. (A) Representative images of contrasting growth phenotypes of four maize inbred lines under N-deficit conditions. Scale bars, 5 cm (top); 10 cm (bottom). (B) Analysis of total dry weight, chlorophyll content, nitrogen translocation in old leaves, and nitrogen translocation in young leaves from four maize inbred lines. Data show the means ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Turkey multiple comparison test at a P-value < 0.05. (C) Manhattan plots of chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation rate. GWAS was performed in a natural population consisting of 296 maize inbred lines using a general linear model (GLM). The dashed line depicts the significance threshold (1.79 × 10−6), and the dots above dashed lines represent significant association SNPs. (D) Quantile–quantile plots for chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation rate. (E) Manhattan plot of the Zm00001d01973 genomic region on chromosome 7.

🧬🌽 RESEARCH 🧬🌽

🧬🌽 Genetic and transcriptome analyses of ZmNRL1, a DUF630 and DUF632 domains-containing protein, revealed its positive role in regulating the response of maize to nitrogen starvation – Zheng et al.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪

🚀 Calling early-career biologists!

The @biologists.bsky.social Travel Grant gives you up to £800 to attend conferences, workshops, or lab visits.

🗓️ This round closes 30 September — don’t miss it!

✅ Apply here:
www.sebiology.org/grants/grant...

#ScienceFunding #TravelGrant #Biology

Outreach Education and Diversity (OED) webinar series 1 Nigel Francis and Jordon Millward will discuss their work on AI in student assessment, marking, and feedback, followed by an open floor for audience discussion.

🚀 Explore how AI is shaping assessment & feedback!
Join Nigel Francis for the first session of SEB’s OED Webinar Series.

Free for member & online – don’t miss it!

Book now:
www.sebiology.org/events/ems-event-calendar/oed-webinar-1.html

The SEB was delighted to return to the Bristol University Biology Careers Fair for the 3rd year running!

Our OED Trustee, Sheila, and our Membership Manager had a fantastic time chatting with final year students about the many benefits of joining an academic society !

Fig. 2.Confocal microscopy of N. punctiforme strains. Filaments from the indicated strains were taken from cultures grown in BG110 medium (not induced; A) or after incubation for 24 h in the presence of Anthoceros agrestis exudates (hormogonia induction; B) and visualized by confocal microscopy. Merged (2 channels) show the overlay of autofluorescence (magenta) and GFP fluorescence (green). Merged (3 channels) represent the overlay of magenta autofluorescence, bright field, and green GFP fluorescence. Hormogonia are identified as short filaments with small cells. Scale bar=20 μm.

💡🔬 TECHNICAL INNOVATION 💡🔬

Neubauer et al. developed a Nostoc reporter strain enabling high-throughput quantitative monitoring of hormogonia differentiation in cyanobacteria as a response to biotic and abiotic factors.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...

#PlantScience 🧪 @peterszovenyi.bsky.social

Fig.10.Integrated schematic diagram of the changes in growth and development and N uptake and utilization in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) by overexpression of Arabidopsis G-proteins. In a low-N environment, overexpression of each of AtGPA1, AtAGB1-AGG1, AtAGB1-AGG2, and AtAGB1-AGG3 promoted root growth and increased GS activity and expression of most GS genes in roots and leaves in oilseed rape at the seedling stage. Subsequently, the seed N accumulation, the number of seeds per silique, and the yield of rapeseed at maturity stage were increased, resulting in higher nitrogen harvest index and NUE. Red arrows represent increases, different colored asterisks represent different transgenic lines, and the size of the asterisks represents the relative degree of increases. GS, glutamine synthetase; LN, low nitrogen; NHI, nitrogen harvest index; NUE, nitrogen use efficiency; NupE, nitrogen uptake efficiency; NutE, nitrogen utilization efficiency.

🧬🌱RESEARCH 🧬🌱

🧬🌱 Overexpression in Brassica napus of Arabidopsis G-protein genes increases biomass of seedling plants under low and high nitrogen conditions, and increases nitrogen use efficiency and yield under low nitrogen condition – Xie et al.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/jxb/...
#PlantScience 🧪

Only one week left to submit session proposals for the SEB Florence 2026 Annual Conference 🚨 Deadline: 1 October 2025 🚨

Submit your session proposals for the SEB Annual Conference in Florence 2026 (July 7–9).

Deadline: October 1, 2025.

Don't miss your chance to shape the future of experimental biology.

More information:
www.sebiology.org/resource/onl...

#SEBconference #ExperimentalBiology #FlorenceConference