Felix Rico-Resendiz

🪴Postdoc position - UT Austin, TX, USA
- Developmental Mechanisms of Adaptation to Underwater Environment/Genome Editing🪴
Do you love amphibious/aquatic plants? Then consider applying to the position! See the attached ads.
utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UTstaff/job/...

Rhizoid‐mediated phosphate uptake and internal transport in the non‐vascular plant Marchantia polymorpha Click on the article title to read more.

Rhizoid‐mediated phosphate uptake and internal transport in the non‐vascular plant Marchantia polymorpha nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Nat Plants: Motif-based substrate mapping of the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BIK1 reveals novel components and regulatory nodes of plant immunity (2026) Plant cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) perceive non- or altered-self elicitors to induce immune responses. PRRs relay information across the plasma membrane and trigger downstream signalling via receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases such as BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1). BIK1 associates with several PRRs and acts as a key executor of immune responses through the phosphorylation of substrate proteins. However, a comprehensive understanding of how BIK1 targets specific substrates and a full repertoire of these substrates are lacking. Here we defined the substrate specificity of BIK1 and used these data to predict candidate substrates in Arabidopsis. Using high-throughput biochemical and genetic screening of these candidates, we confirmed many as direct BIK1 substrates in vitro and novel regulators of plant immunity. Among the BIK1 substrates identified are MULTIPLE C2 DOMAIN AND TRANSMEMBRANE REGION PROTEIN 3, which we reveal regulates flagellin 22 (flg22)-induced plasmodesmata closure and immunity, and members of the largely uncharacterized CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE-LIKE family, which we uncover as novel negative regulators of immunity. In parallel, we interrogated intracellular NUCLEOTIDE-BINDING LEUCINE-RICH REPEAT (NLR) immune receptors for potential BIK1 phosphorylation motifs and identified multiple NLRs as direct BIK1 substrates. We reveal that BIK1 phosphorylation regulates NLR oligomerization, thus controlling a key activation step for these immune receptors. Together, our unbiased biochemical screens shed light on the central role of BIK1 as a key kinase shaping multiple layers of plant immune signalling. Cell surface receptors perceive immunogenic elicitors, triggering downstream signalling via receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases such as BIK1. Here the authors define and use the phosphorylation motif of BIK1 to find novel substrate candidates.

New Publication: Motif-based substrate mapping of the receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase BIK1 reveals novel components and regulatory nodes of plant immunity (2026)

https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/163635

Pls RT‼️ @hanhtkvu.bsky.social lab @embl.org & we @cosheidelberg.bsky.social are looking for a #postdoc to study #regeneration x #autophagy across kingdoms of life.
www.health-life-sciences.de/opportunitie... Pls spread the word & get in touch if you are interested.

Wow, and pretty

New Article: "A feedback regulatory loop by MAPK–CCA1 engages auxin signalling to stimulate root foraging for nitrate" rdcu.be/e39v1

Nitrate sensing by NLP7 engages a MEKK–MAPK cascade to phosphorylate the circadian clock protein CCA1, establishing a + feedback loop...

New preprint out! Zhoubo Hu et al "A redox-regulated RCC1-like protein controls catalase activity in Arabidopsis". We identify CAIR1, a UVR8-interacting protein, as a redox-responsive regulator of catalase localization and activity, maintaining cellular ROS balance. 🌱
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

We’re hiring!

Postdoctoral Researcher / Research Assistant @KamounLab

“Biology and Applications of Plant Immune Receptors” www.tsl.ac.uk/working-at-t...

🚨 Positions available in Plant Science! Please share. We’re hiring:
1. Postdoc
2.PhD (UK applicants only)
Focus: root oxygen dynamics, developmental signalling. Come help us uncover how O2 shapes root development.
More info here-
sites.google.com/view/root-re...
#plantscijobs #plantscience

1/9 Our latest paper on immunity mechanisms in Marchantia just out @pnas.org ! 🔽

Close collaboration between our former PhD students @karimaelm.bsky.social and @chloe-beaulieu.bsky.social !

and the old gard @jacquet-chris.bsky.social @maximebonhomme.bsky.social

www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Proposed working model for XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM GROUP D function in stomatal development.

Arabidopsis XPD functions upstream of CDKA;1 to regulate stomatal development

Li et al.

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/4WFWA2...

Proposed working model for BRASSINOSTEROID-mediated suppression of adventitious rooting in Arabidopsis.

BSK family kinases are essential for brassinosteroid signaling and suppression of adventitious rooting by repressing the expression of LBD16

Yan et al.

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/CIJFBJ...

Chromatin state architecture governs transcription factor accessibility across plant genomes Author summary In eukaryotes, DNA is tightly associated with histone proteins. Histone covalent modifications and histones isoforms, also called histone variants provide most of the complexity of chro...

This is a very special paper for me. I had the idea of combining transcription factor binding with chromatin in 2016/8. It took some time, but thanks to Fred and Vikas, we can finally share the story in @plos.org Genetics looking at chromatin states in Arabidopsis and Marchantia. #PlantScience

PhD opportunity in the newly minted RO2T Respiration Group! Please share!
Interested in root biology, oxygen dynamics, imaging & modelling? We’re recruiting a PhD student at the University of Nottingham.
Deadline 15th February.
jobs.nottingham.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
#plantscijobs #plantscience

bioRxiv: AMBER and GOLD: Polycistronic Genes for Betaxanthin Production in Plants (2026) Genetically encoded pigments are powerful visual reporters and creative tools for biology, yet in plants the palette of pigment biosynthesis genes has remained largely limited to red betacyanins encoded by RUBY. Here we develop and characterize three new polycistronic constructs AMBER_v1, AMBER_v2, and GOLD that contain betalain biosynthesis enzymes to produce yellow, fluorescent betaxanthins in plant tissues. These tools expand the palette of publicly available pigmentation genes for use in plant research, education, and floral design.

New Preprint: AMBER and GOLD: Polycistronic Genes for Betaxanthin Production in Plants (2026)
https://www.tsl.ac.uk/publications/162209

A Marchantia gemmaling producing ectopic vegetative propagules

Happy to share the pre-print on GEMMIFER, a novel ERF required for the initiation of gemma in Marchantia. One of the coolest phenotypes that I have ever seen. Congratulations to Yuki and Go, who led this research. #PlantScience @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Postdoctoral Researcher (Carella Group) | John Innes Centre An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Carella Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Evo-MPMI (Evolutionary Molecular…

We have an open POSTDOC position to explore Marchantia immune receptor biology that is closing on the 18th of Jan. Apply using the link below, and/or email me for more details. www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Poster inviting participants for Gordon Research Seminar on Salt and Water Stress in Plants happening on 23-24th May 2026 at Switzerland.

🌱📢Join us at the 𝐆𝐑𝐒 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 23-24, 2026 in 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝!

💡Specially encourage ECRs to apply to present your work! Its a great forum to connect with peers and mentors in the field.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲👉 www.grc.org/salt-and-wat...

Please repost!
#plantscience #abioticstress #ECRs

Plant Kelch phosphatases are Ser/Thr phosphatases involved in cell cycle regulation Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones sensed at the cell surface by the membrane receptor kinase BRI1. Activation of BRI1 leads to the dephosphorylation of BZR1/BES1 transcription factors ...

Our new year starts of course with new preprint on brassinosteroid signaling tinyurl.com/nhzcfkxd. We re-analyzed the function of Kelch phosphatases, which were previously characterized as protein tyrosine phosphatases that dephosphorylate the critical pTyr200 in the GSK3 kinase BIN2. (1/6)

schematic diagram showing phosphate starvation responses (PSR) and how they regulate nodulation and AM symbiosis in 3 plant species: Arabidopsis thaliana, P. vulgaris, and M. truncatula. Taken from Batnini and Kumar (https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcaf133) in their Commentary to: Singh, J., Mendoza-Soto, A. B., Tiwari, M., Acevedo-Sandoval, T. T., Formey, D., Ané, J.-M., Isidra-Arellano, M. C., & Valdés-López, O. (2025). Phosphate deficiency reduces nodule formation through a phosphate starvation response-like protein in Phaseolus vulgaris. Plant and Cell Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcaf069.

Feeding symbiosis...

Singh @oswaldovaldesl.bsky.social et al show that the PHR-L7 transcription factor in common bean halts early nodulation under P-scarce conditions, linking nutrient availability with #nodulation

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/pcp/...

Commentary & Fig: doi.org/10.1093/pcp/...

#PlantScience

New opportunity to join our #EvoMPMI group @johninnescentre.bsky.social as a Postdoctoral Researcher working on the mechanistic basis of immunity in diverse plants. Please spread the word, reach out by email, and/or apply if interested! More details here: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Evolution of protein domains and protein domain combinations provides insights into the origin and diversification of land plants www.cell.com/cell-genomic...

Engineering compact Physalis peruviana (goldenberry) to promote its potential as a global crop Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) produces sweet, nutritionally rich berries, yet like many minor crops, is cultivated in limited geographical regions and has not been a focus of breeding programs for...

Genome editing of goldenberry ERECTA for crop ideotype. Congrats, Zach Lippman, Joyce Van Eck & the team! "Engineering compact Physalis peruviana to promote its potential as a global crop". ERECTA rock😉
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Cell-type specification at criticality underlies rhizoid patterning in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha Rhizoid specification in Marchantia polymorpha gemmae involves lateral inhibition mediated by the microRNA FRH1, which represses the rhizoid-specific …

Happy to see this out! We describe a patterning mechanism underlying rhizoid specification in Marchantia. Contrary to classic patterning mechanisms (e.g., Turing), rhizoid specification depends on both randomness and lateral inhibition, involves subcritical bifurcations, and occurs at criticality!

A SABATH family enzyme regulates development via the gibberellin-related pathway in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.11.693594v1

There are a couple of empty chairs at our table — want to sit with us?
Reach out to me or any lab member www.oeaw.ac.at/gmi/research... We’ll be hiring two postdocs in 2026.
We’re excited about ambitious and creative ideas and are committed to supporting future group leaders 1/2

Glad to have this finally published: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... lots of new data since the #preprint. If you are into selective #autophagy, #evolution, #proteostasis Please have a look!

An inositol pyrophosphate interaction screen provides insight into the regulation of plant casein kinase II Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are key nutrient messengers in plants, but their protein receptors remain poorly defined. Using a systems-level affinity screen with biotinylated InsP₆, InsP₇, and I...

Our latest collaboration with Fiedler lab @fmp-berlin.de and Panse labs UZH out on @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social. Using bead-adsorbed, non-hydrolyzable inositol pyrophosphate (PP-InsP) analogs, we isolated many putative PP-InsP-binding proteins from Arabidopsis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... (1/6)

The expanding landscape of inositol phosphate signaling network in land plants - Ghosh - FEBS Letters - Wiley Online Library febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...