GSH–AsA Cycle-Mediated “Vaccine”-Like Priming Induced by Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Enhances Plant Stress Resilience

GSH–AsA Cycle-Mediated “Vaccine”-Like Priming Induced by Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Enhances Plant Stress Resilience | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 28 January 2026 V1 Latest version Share on GSH–AsA Cycle-Mediated “Vaccine”-Like Priming Induced by Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Enhances Plant Stress Resilience Authors : Tao Jia , Wenwen Li , Xiaodong Sun , Jiawen Pan , Zongpeng Zhao , Zhiguo Liu , and Peng Liu 0000-0003-1833-495X [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176956766.60466168/v1 95 views 40 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Nanoplastics (NPs) pollution threatens agriculture, yet plant adaptive mechanisms remain unclear; however, research on enhancing plant resistance through targeted regulation remains scarce. Here, we demonstrate a “vaccine effect” in tomato plants, where low-dose PS-NPs pretreatment (10 mg/L) significantly alleviates the growth inhibition caused by subsequent high-dose stress (50 mg/L). This was achieved by restored photosynthetic homeostasis (Fv/Fm: 0.82±0.02), and mitigating oxidative damage to chloroplasts and cell membranes. Further integrated multi-omics analysis identified the glutathione-ascorbate (GSH-AsA) cycle as the core regulatory hub. The pretreatment specifically reprogrammed this cycle through transcriptional up-regulation and enhanced enzyme activities, thereby ensuring efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and redox homeostasis. Molecular docking simulations further substantiated this protective mechanism, revealing that PS-NPs exhibit high binding affinity to the catalytic sites of key enzymes (e.g., APX2, binding energy: -6.062 kcal/mol). This potential inhibition was appeared to be counteracted by the increased abundance of these enzymes induced by the pretreatment. This study elucidates, for the first time, a GSH-AsA cycle-mediated ”stress memory” mechanism in plants triggered by NPs priming. It provides novel insights into plant adaptive responses to emerging contaminants and a potential strategy for enhancing crop resilience in plastic-polluted agroecosystems. Supplementary Material File (manuscript.docx) Download 32.67 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 28 January 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords antioxidant enzyme glutathione-ascorbate cycle metabalome nanoplastics transcriptome Authors Affiliations Tao Jia Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Wenwen Li Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Xiaodong Sun Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Jiawen Pan Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Zongpeng Zhao Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Zhiguo Liu Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Peng Liu 0000-0003-1833-495X [email protected] Shandong Agricultural University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 95 views 40 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Tao Jia, Wenwen Li, Xiaodong Sun, et al. GSH–AsA Cycle-Mediated “Vaccine”-Like Priming Induced by Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Enhances Plant Stress Resilience. Authorea . 28 January 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176956766.60466168/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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