Journal Article

Polyglutamate-loaded chitosan nanogels reprogram plant metabolism for increased growth and viral resistance

Qiao, Gang, Bianco, Alberto, Cai, Lin, Luo, Xingyi, Sun, Xianchao, Liu, Changyun, Yang, Juan, Corcelle, Céline, Xiao, Siyi, Chen, Li, Tian, Shaorui, Ma, Xiaozhou

2026

Overview

Asparagine synthetase B (AS-B) is essential for nitrogen metabolism, but its broader physiological functions remain poorly understood. Here we show that the evolutionarily conserved Nicotiana benthamiana NbAS-B confers expression-dependent antiviral resistance and promotes plant growth. Multi-omics analyses indicate that NbAS-B-mediated antiviral immunity relies on glutamate-induced activation of Ca²⁺ signaling through the receptor GLR3.3, whereas its growth-promoting effect results from photosynthetic reprogramming. Building on these insights, we develop polyglutamate-loaded chitosan nanogels (PGANPs) to artificially manipulate this pathway. These nanogels efficiently enter plant tissues and enable sustained in situ release of glutamate, thereby mimicking and amplifying NbAS-B signaling outputs. PGANPs provide long-lasting systemic antiviral immunity while concurrently enhancing plant growth, without incurring metabolic costs. Our work identifies NbAS-B as a dual-function regulator linking metabolic status to immune activation and establishes PGANPs as an eco-friendly, controllable, and durable nanobiotechnology for managing viral diseases in crops. Controlling plant metabolism to improve growth and disease resistance has huge potential. Here, the authors find a conserved pathway which promotes antiviral resistance and promotes plant growth and develop polyglutamate-loaded chitosan nanogels to manipulate this pathway.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 13 / 13/89 / 38 / 38/77 / 631/1647/350/354 / 631/449/447 / 631/61/350 / Agricultural production / Amino acids / Asparagine / Aspartate-ammonia ligase / Biosynthesis / Chitosan / Chitosan - chemistry / Controllability / Datasets / Disease prevention / Disease Resistance / Drug resistance / Enzymes / Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase - genetics / Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase - metabolism / Glutamic Acid - metabolism / Humanities and Social Sciences / Immune response / Immunity (Disease) / Kinases / Ligands / Metabolic rate / Metabolism / Metabolites / multidisciplinary / Mutation / Nanogels - chemistry / Nanomaterials / Nicotiana - drug effects / Nicotiana - genetics / Nicotiana - growth & development / Nicotiana - immunology / Nicotiana - metabolism / Nicotiana - virology / Nitrogen / Nitrogen metabolism / Physiology / Plant diseases / Plant Diseases - immunology / Plant Diseases - virology / Plant growth / Plant metabolism / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plant Proteins - metabolism / Plant resistance / Plant tissues / Plants, Genetically Modified / Polyglutamic Acid - chemistry / Polyglutamic Acid - pharmacology / Proteins / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Signal transduction / Viral diseases / Viral infections / Viruses