# A CONSTANS-like transcriptional co-activator couples ethylene signaling to jasmonate biosynthesis and is targeted by a fungal effector

Source: [cell.com](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)01439-9?rss=yes) · 2026-11-10 · Life
Page: https://themorning.science/story/a-constans-like-transcriptional-co-activator-couples-ethylene-signaling-to-jasmo-b6b00f880f820a90
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- Researchers identify the MdCOL4-MdERF098 complex in apple as a transcriptional co-activator module that couples ethylene signaling to jasmonate biosynthesis.
- Fungi target this module through the effector Vm11039 to suppress host immunity.

## Why it matters

The study links two plant hormone pathways at the level of a shared transcriptional module and shows a pathogen effector acting on it, which may inform how disease resistance in apple and other crops is studied.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: Study published in Current Biology

## Coverage

- [A CONSTANS-like transcriptional co-activator couples ethylene signaling to jasmonate biosynthesis and is targeted by a fungal effector](https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)01439-9?rss=yes) — cell.com, 2026-11-10

Tags: apple, ethylene, jasmonate, plant immunity, effector, transcription factor

---

Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science