Elucidation of the mechanism by which plants sense hydrogen peroxide signals
May 19, 2026
A novel copper ion–mediated redox sensing mechanism
A collaborative research group from Nagoya University, Tokai Innovation Center for Research with Advanced Facilities and Technologies, RIKEN CSRS, and Osaka University has uncovered a novel mechanism by which plants sense hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an important signaling molecule.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including H2O2, function as key signaling molecules in a wide range of organisms, including plants. In plants, CARD1 (also known as HPCA1), which encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor-like kinase, has been identified as an essential gene for H2O2 sensing. However, the molecular mechanism underlying how CARD1 perceives H2O2 has remained largely unclear. To address this question, the collaborative research group combined structural biology, genetic, and biochemical approaches. Their analyses revealed that a copper ion bound to the LRR domain in the extracellular region of CARD1 is essential for H2O2 sensing.
These findings significantly advance our understanding of ROS sensing mechanisms in plants and are expected to contribute to the development of novel crop protection technologies.
- Original article
- Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-72573-8
- N. Ishihama†, Y. Fukuda†, Y. Shirano, K. J. Fujimoto, K. Takizawa, R. Hiroyama, H. Ito, M. Nishimura, T. Yanai, T. Inoue, K. Shirasu, A. Laohavisit,
- "A copper-dependent, redox-based hydrogen peroxide perception in plants".
- Contact
- Nobuaki Ishihama; Research Scientist
Ken Shirasu; Group Director
Plant Immunity Research Group
