An LRR co-receptor kinase essential for systemic nitrogen-demand signalling.

A leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase called CERI is essential for systemic nitrogen-demand signalling in plants, with CERI loss impairing this process in Arabidopsis.

• Why it matters: Understanding how plants coordinate nitrogen uptake is crucial for improving nutrient use efficiency and crop productivity, yet the molecular mechanisms of systemic N-demand signalling remain unclear.
• What they did: Researchers identified CERI, a receptor kinase that interacts with CEPR1 in a CEP-dependent manner, and demonstrated that CERI functions as a co-receptor necessary for systemic N-demand signalling in Arabidopsis.
• The result: Disruption of CERI impairs systemic nitrogen-demand signalling without affecting root architecture regulation, highlighting its specific role in mediating long-range nitrogen communication and potential targets for agricultural enhancement.