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The OsUVR8-OsNAC3-OsERF117 signaling module mediates metabolic acclimation and climate adaptation in rice.

Wenxin Liu·Dongxiao Zhou·Jianying Xing·Shangyong Xue·Tian-Jing Wang·Peng Guo·Yutong Liu·Zheng-Yi Xu
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Abstract

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B; 280 to 315 nanometers) radiation increasingly threatens crop productivity, yet the genetic basis of plant adaptation remains poorly understood. We delineate a UV-B signaling module in rice that links photoreceptor activation to transcriptional reprogramming and metabolic acclimation. The AP2/ERF transcription factor OsERF117 acts as a central regulator, directly activating flavonoid and melatonin biosynthetic genes to drive photoprotective metabolite accumulation and enhance UV-B stress tolerance. Promoter variation in OsERF117 defines 10 haplotypes across 4093 rice accessions, with high-expression haplotypes enriched in high-UV-B regions and correlated with adaptive divergence. OsERF117 is transcriptionally activated by OsNAC3, with a cis-regulatory SNP at an OsNAC3-binding site modulating responsiveness and contributing to subspecies diversification. Genetic and biochemical evidence supports a model in which UV-B-activated OsUVR8 promotes OsNAC3 activity and antagonizes OsCOP1-mediated ubiquitination and degradation in rice. This OsUVR8-OsCOP1-OsNAC3-OsERF117 module reveals how UV-B perception drives regulatory and metabolic diversification, offering targets for breeding UV-B-resilient crops.

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OryzaPlant ProteinsGene Expression Regulation, PlantSignal TransductionAcclimatizationUltraviolet RaysTranscription FactorsAdaptation, PhysiologicalPromoter Regions, GeneticJournal Article

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Wenxin Liu, Dongxiao Zhou, Jianying Xing, Shangyong Xue, Tian-Jing Wang, Peng Guo, Yutong Liu, Zheng-Yi Xu. 2026-09-02. The OsUVR8-OsNAC3-OsERF117 signaling module mediates metabolic acclimation and climate adaptation in rice.. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aef5945

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