Phosphorylation-dependent activation of the bHLH transcription factor ICE1/SCRM promotes polarization of the Arabidopsis zygote.

Chen H, Xiong F, Wangler AM, Bischoff T, Wang K, Miao Y, Slane D, Schwab R, Laux T, Bayer M.

New Phytol. 2025; doi: 10.1111/nph.20265

Our results show that the transcription factor SCRM has a critical function in zygote polarization and acts in parallel with the known MPK3/6 target WRKY2 in activating WOX8. We show that MAP kinase-directed phosphorylation of the same target protein differs between the embryo and the epidermis.