浙江大学发表最新Nature论文

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses recent research on the biosynthesis of salicylic acid (SA) in plants, highlighting its importance in plant defense mechanisms and its historical significance in human medicine, particularly in the development of aspirin [2][5][13]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study conducted by teams from Zhejiang University and others revealed a three-step enzymatic reaction module (BEBT-BBH-BSE) that facilitates the conversion of benzoyl-CoA to salicylic acid in rice, demonstrating that this pathway is conserved across various crops [3][8]. - The research identified three specific enzymes involved in this pathway: benzoyl-CoA:benzyl transferase (BEBT), benzyl benzoate hydroxylase (BBH), and salicylic acid benzyl ester hydrolase (BSE), which sequentially convert benzoyl-CoA into salicylic acid [6][8]. - The findings fill a significant knowledge gap in the biosynthesis of key plant defense hormones, providing a foundation for developing disease-resistant crops [8][14]. Group 2: Related Studies - Concurrently, two other studies published in Nature also focused on salicylic acid biosynthesis, confirming the conservation of the PAL synthesis pathway in seed plants and its implications for understanding disease resistance mechanisms in various plant groups [9][10]. - The research from Sichuan University and Zhejiang Normal University further elucidated the complete biosynthesis pathway of salicylic acid from phenylalanine, reinforcing the idea of its evolutionary conservation in most seed plants [10][14].