{
  "id": 5406002,
  "title": "TALE-independent transcriptional activation of the rice executor gene Xa23 is regulated via histone acetylation during zygote development",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/tale-independent-transcriptional-activation-of-the-rice-executor-gene",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.02.748781v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent research has uncovered a novel function for the rice E gene Xa23, which was previously believed to only play a role in plant immunity. This gene is transcribed in zygotes, a finding that suggests Xa23 has a developmental purpose during the early stages of zygote development.\n\nTALE-independent transcription of Xa23 is regulated through histone acetylation. Histone deacetylase inhibition leads to increased transcription of Xa23 in unfertilized egg cells, indicating that histone acetylation plays a key role in Xa23 regulation. The researchers identified potential cis-regulatory elements and transcription start sites associated with native Xa23 transcription during zygote development.\n\nThese findings support a previously proposed model in which E genes, like Xa23, have native functions in development. Additionally, the study reveals that fortuitous upstream polymorphisms can create TALE-binding sites, transforming these genes into immune executors, a mechanism previously only observed in plants infected by biotrophic pathogens.",
  "summary": "Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) from Xanthomonas activate transcription of executor (E) genes in host plants, leading to cell death and thereby restricting proliferation of biotrophic pathogens. Because E gene transcripts had only been detected upon activation by cognate Xanthomonas TALEs, E genes were thought to function exclusively in plant immunity. Here, we detect…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}