Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis

Abstract Heat stress inhibits photosynthesis efficiency, thereby suppressing plant growth and crop yield. However, the mechanism underlying this inhibition is not fully understood. Here, we report that the multiple organellar RNA-editing factor 8 (MORF8) forms condensates with solid-like properties...

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Main Authors: Jie Wu, Yue Wang, Haodong Chen, Tongda Xu, Wenqiang Yang, Xiaofeng Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58146-1
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author Jie Wu
Yue Wang
Haodong Chen
Tongda Xu
Wenqiang Yang
Xiaofeng Fang
author_facet Jie Wu
Yue Wang
Haodong Chen
Tongda Xu
Wenqiang Yang
Xiaofeng Fang
author_sort Jie Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Heat stress inhibits photosynthesis efficiency, thereby suppressing plant growth and crop yield. However, the mechanism underlying this inhibition is not fully understood. Here, we report that the multiple organellar RNA-editing factor 8 (MORF8) forms condensates with solid-like properties in chloroplasts upon heat stress. In vitro data show that the MORF8 condensation is intrinsically heat-dependent and primarily determined by its IDR (intrinsically disordered region). Purification and characterization of MORF8 condensates show that numerous editing factors including PPR proteins and MORFs are partitioned. We provide both genetic and biochemical evidence that MORF8 condensation inhibits chloroplast RNA editing. In agreement, we find that both heat stress and MORF8 condensation lead to reduced editing of RNAs encoding NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex and impaired NDH activity and photosynthesis efficiency. These findings uncover MORF8 as a putative chloroplastic thermosensor that mediates photosynthesis inhibition by heat and highlight the functional significance of solid material properties of biomolecular condensates.
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spelling doaj-art-8ed8bcfe6018425394166fbcadbc33102025-08-20T02:41:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-58146-1Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in ArabidopsisJie Wu0Yue Wang1Haodong Chen2Tongda Xu3Wenqiang Yang4Xiaofeng Fang5Center for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Photobiology, Photosynthesis Research Center, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesCenter for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityHaixia Institute of Science and Technology, and College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityKey Laboratory of Photobiology, Photosynthesis Research Center, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesCenter for Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Heat stress inhibits photosynthesis efficiency, thereby suppressing plant growth and crop yield. However, the mechanism underlying this inhibition is not fully understood. Here, we report that the multiple organellar RNA-editing factor 8 (MORF8) forms condensates with solid-like properties in chloroplasts upon heat stress. In vitro data show that the MORF8 condensation is intrinsically heat-dependent and primarily determined by its IDR (intrinsically disordered region). Purification and characterization of MORF8 condensates show that numerous editing factors including PPR proteins and MORFs are partitioned. We provide both genetic and biochemical evidence that MORF8 condensation inhibits chloroplast RNA editing. In agreement, we find that both heat stress and MORF8 condensation lead to reduced editing of RNAs encoding NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex and impaired NDH activity and photosynthesis efficiency. These findings uncover MORF8 as a putative chloroplastic thermosensor that mediates photosynthesis inhibition by heat and highlight the functional significance of solid material properties of biomolecular condensates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58146-1
spellingShingle Jie Wu
Yue Wang
Haodong Chen
Tongda Xu
Wenqiang Yang
Xiaofeng Fang
Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
Nature Communications
title Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
title_full Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
title_fullStr Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
title_full_unstemmed Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
title_short Solid-like condensation of MORF8 inhibits RNA editing under heat stress in Arabidopsis
title_sort solid like condensation of morf8 inhibits rna editing under heat stress in arabidopsis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58146-1
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