A redox-driven phase switch: RCD1 condensates decode growth and stress adaptation

To coordinate growth and acclimation, plants must accurately discriminate physiological reactive oxygen species (ROS) signals from those derived from environmental stress. Xing et al. (2026) 11. Xing, J. ∙ Li, K. ∙ Duan, W. ... Phase separation transitions of the redox sensor RCD1 mediate differential ROS signals to regulate plant growth and stress responses Mol. Plant. 2026; Full Text Full Text (PDF) Scopus (0) PubMed Google Scholar resolve the “specificity paradox” of ROS signaling by identifying radical-induced cell death1 (RCD1) as a redox-responsive molecular sieve. Under basal conditions, RCD1 utilizes its intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) to drive liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming nuclear condensates that preferentially entrap the transcription factor (TF) ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1). Conversely, stress-induced ROS accumulation triggers the oxidation of a conserved cysteine triad (C371/379/392), provoking a phase transition that dismantles these assemblies. This structural reorganization triggers ZAT12-mediated antioxidant defenses, establishing redox-driven phase separation as a pivotal regulatory nexus for the rapid, spatiotemporal recalibration of plant physiological states.