Molecular Plant Journal Cover Design Service (GSH)

Molecular Plant

19 December 2025

Duet between stress granules and glutathionylation regulates cytosolic redox state to maintain proteostasis in Arabidopsis

Shuai Zhao^1,2,6,8, Zhouli Xie^1,2,3,4,8, Xiaoyuan Chen^1,8, Yabo Shi^1,5, Haiwei Li^6,7, Ying Li^1,2, Changtian Chen^1,2, Mian Zhou^6,7 and Wei Wang^1,2,

 10.1016/j.molp.2025.12.018 

The Yin-Yang of redox balance: protein S-glutathionylation and stress granules safeguard proteostasis. Inspired by the lotus pond of Weiming Lake at Peking University, the cover highlights protein S-glutathionylation (Pr-SSG) as a key driver of stress granule (SG) formation under oxidative stress. At the base of the image, the Yin-Yang ripples on the water surface symbolize the dynamic equilibrium between oxidation and reduction within the cytosol, with floating green duckweeds representing the stabilizing force of the reductive state. While the rising oxidative milieu (represented by the reddish ripples) acts as an essential trigger for stress signaling, it concurrently poses a severe threat to protein integrity. Emerging from the oxidizing milieu, a dew-like SG condensate assembles as Pr-SSG promotes multicomponent interactions and phase separation, concentrating RNAs and proteins into a transient protective compartment. Together, the visual elements convey a profound biological strategy. Pr-SSG and SGs synergistically construct a transient, reducing microenvironment—a cellular “safe haven”. This localized compartment buffers against oxidative damage, effectively maintaining cytosolic proteostasis while allowing necessary stress signaling cascades to proceed unimpeded.