SnRK1.1 Coordinates Organ-Specific Growth-Defense Programs via Transcriptomic Rewiring in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

SnRK1 (Sucrose non-fermenting-1-Related Kinase 1) is a master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis in plants, coordinating developmental and metabolic responses under environmental and internal stress conditions. Here, we demonstrate that its catalytic subunit, KIN10, orchestrates organ-specific growth-defense programs in Arabidopsis thaliana through transcriptomic rewiring. Using RNA-seq profiling, we reveal that kin10 knockout mutants exhibit extensive transcriptional reprogramming in roots, particularly in pathways linked to signal perception, cell wall remodeling, and intracellular trafficking, which correlates with impaired root growth and reduced root hair elongation upon Pseudomonas syringae infection. In contrast, KIN10 overexpression (KIN10-OE) lines display constitutive defense activation in shoots, including elevated expression of genes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and salicylic acid (SA) signaling, leading to enhanced ROS accumulation and growth trade-offs. kin10 roots show muted responses to biotic stimuli, while KIN10-OE shoots prioritize defense over growth. These findings position KIN10 as a critical integrator of energy status and immune signaling, enabling fine-tuned, tissue-specific responses essential for optimizing plant adaptation to dynamic environmental challenges.