Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of rising global temperatures on food security, particularly how high temperatures threaten crop yields and quality, necessitating the exploration of heat-resistant genes in crops [1] Group 1: Research Findings - A collaborative research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University has identified a dual mechanism in rice that allows it to sense and respond to high temperatures, published in the journal "Cell" [1] - The study reveals two key regulatory factors in rice: diacylglycerol kinase (DGK7) and phosphodiesterase (MdPDE1), which connect membrane lipid remodeling to nuclear signaling [2] - DGK7 acts as a "lipid decoder" on the cell membrane, while MdPDE1 functions as a "cyclic nucleotide decoder" in the nucleus, forming a signaling chain that translates physical heat signals into biological instructions [2] Group 2: Mechanism of Action - Upon high-temperature exposure, DGK7 is activated, generating phosphatidic acid (PA) as a lipid messenger, which amplifies the initial heat signal and initiates a chemical alarm within the cell [2] - PA then activates MdPDE1, which degrades cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) to maintain the expression of heat-resistant genes, enabling the synthesis of heat shock proteins and reactive oxygen species scavengers [3] - This mechanism allows cells to transition into a "high-temperature emergency state," enhancing their resilience against heat stress [3] Group 3: Implications for Breeding - The research provides precise targets for breeding heat-resistant crops, with findings indicating that a 1°C increase in global average temperature could lead to a 3%-8% reduction in crop yields, totaling a 19.7% decrease for major crops like wheat, corn, rice, and soybeans [3] - Field trials showed that rice lines with single-gene modifications yielded 50%-60% more than control lines, while double-gene modified lines exhibited nearly double the yield and improved grain quality without affecting normal yield conditions [3] - This advancement suggests that scientists can design "gradient heat-resistant" varieties tailored to different climatic needs, ensuring stable yields under high-temperature conditions [3][4]