Confocal microscopy of Arabidopsis plants expressing NAC53 fused to GFP. Credit: Suayb Üstün Plants are under constant stress due to pathogens, heat, or other environmental factors. Proteins can become damaged as a result and cell function is thrown off balance. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum working with Professor Şuayb Üstün have discovered how plant cells respond to this protein stress and selectively adjust their internal processes. The researchers show that cells under stress prioritize the breaking down of damaged proteins over energy production through photosynthesis. Their findings, published in Molecular Cell , could help make plants more robust. Thousands of proteins have to be correctly produced, folded, and regulated in each cell. Under stress conditions, this balance (known as proteostasis) becomes unstable. Misfolded or damaged proteins accumulate and can harm the cell.…