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Structural basis of salicylic acid perception by Arabidopsis NPR proteins

A green ribbon diagram of the NPR4-SBC protein with labeled N-terminus (N) and C-terminus (C), and a red-labeled SA molecule bound at the center of the structure.

Zheng lab reveals how the plant immunity hormone, salicylic acid, which is also the precursor of Aspirin, is perceived by its receptor protein in plants. The results give us a hint on what the same molecule might be able to do in human cells besides targeting the cyclooxygenases.