Phytoalexins are specialized metabolites that are synthesized by plants in response to pathogens. A paradigm in transcription factor (TF) biology is that conserved TFs have dedicated roles across plant lineages in regulating specific branches of specialized metabolism. However, the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NAC family TF ANAC042 (a.k.a. JUNGBRUNNEN1 or JUB1) regulates the synthesis of camalexin, a Trp-derived phytoalexin specifically produced by several Brassicaceae species, whereas its homolog in soybean (Glycine max) regulates the synthesis of glyceollins, which are Phe-derived phytoalexins specific to soybean. The question addressed by this research is whether ANAC042 broadly regulates phytoalexin biosynthetic pathways in Arabidopsis. Using a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (MALDI-HRMS) method, we found that the Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutant anac042–1 elicited with bacterial flagellin (Flg22) is deficient in lineage-specific Trp- and conserved Phe-derived phytoalexins—namely camalexin and 4-hydroxyindole-3-carbonyl nitrile (4OH-ICN), and pathogen-inducible monolignols and scopoletin, respectively. Overexpressing ANAC042 in the anac042-1 mutant restored or exceeded wildtype amounts of the metabolites. The expression of phytoalexin biosynthetic genes in mutant and overexpression lines mirrored the accumulation of metabolites. Yeast-one hybrid and promoter-reporter assays in Nicotiana benthamiana found that the ANAC042 protein directly binds and activates the promoters of CYP71B15, CYP71A12, and PAL1 genes for the synthesis of camalexin, 4OH-ICN, and pathogen-inducible monolignol/scopoletin, respectively. Our results demonstrate that ANAC042 regulates conserved and lineage-specific phytoalexin pathways in Arabidopsis. The latter suggests that it is an opportunistic TF that has coopted lineage-specific genes into phytoalexin metabolism, thus providing an exception to the current paradigm.

Rationale: Understanding plant defense mechanisms against pathogens is essential for enhancing agricultural productivity and crop protection. This study focuses on the quantification of camalexin and scopoletin, two critical phytoalexins in Arabidopsis thaliana , using mass spectrometry techniques. Precise measurement of these compounds provides insights into plant resistance and supports agricultural research. Methods: Camalexin and scopoletin were quantified using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry (MALDI‐HRMS). The matrix and solvent conditions were optimized to maximize sensitivity and accuracy. MS/MS experiments confirmed compound identification with high mass accuracy (mass error < 5 ppm). The method was validated through comparative analysis of wild‐type (WT) and mutant Arabidopsis lines, using internal standards and multiple replicates to ensure precision and reliability. Results: The method exhibited high linearity for scopoletin ( R ² = 0.9992) and camalexin ( R ² = 0.9987) across concentration ranges of 0.16–5 and 0.31–5 μM, respectively. Limits of detection (LOD) were 0.16 μM for camalexin and 0.04 μM for scopoletin, with limits of quantification (LOQ) at 0.2 μM and 0.08 μM, respectively. Samples analysis demonstrated reliable quantification in WT and mutant lines, with significant reductions in camalexin and scopoletin levels observed in the atwrky33‐2 and atmyb15‐1 mutants, respectively. Additionally, the method detected sub‐physiological concentrations, confirming its sensitivity and robustness for low‐level detection. Conclusions: This study presents a validated, precise, and accurate MALDI‐HRMS method for the quantification of camalexin and scopoletin in Arabidopsis thaliana . The approach not only enhances understanding of plant defense mechanisms but also offers potential applications for biotechnological and agricultural research, especially for investigating genetic variations and stress‐induced phytoalexin production.

Phytoalexins are specialized metabolites that are synthesized by plants in response to pathogens. A paradigm in transcription factor (TF) biology is that conserved TFs have dedicated roles across plant lineages in regulating specific branches of specialized metabolism. However, the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NAC family TF ANAC042 (a.k.a. JUNGBRUNNEN1 or JUB1) regulates the synthesis of camalexin, a Trp-derived phytoalexin specifically produced by several Brassicaceae species, whereas its homolog in soybean (Glycine max) regulates the synthesis of glyceollins, which are Phe-derived phytoalexins specific to soybean. The question addressed by this research is whether ANAC042 broadly regulates phytoalexin biosynthetic pathways in Arabidopsis. Using a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (MALDI-HRMS) method we found that the Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutant anac042-1 elicited with bacterial flagellin (Flg22) is deficient in lineage-specific Trp- and conserved Phe-derived phytoalexins - namely camalexin and 4-hydroxyindole-3-carbonyl nitrile (4OH-ICN), and pathogen-inducible monolignols and scopoletin, respectively. Overexpressing ANAC042 in the anac042-1 mutant restored or exceeded wildtype amounts of the metabolites. The expression of phytoalexin biosynthetic genes in mutant and overexpression lines mirrored the accumulation of metabolites. Yeast-one hybrid and promoter-reporter assays in Nicotiana benthamiana found that the ANAC042 protein directly binds and activates the promoters of CYP71B15, CYP71A12, and PAL1 genes for the synthesis of camalexin, 4OH-ICN, and pathogen-inducible monolignol/scopoletin, respectively. Our results demonstrate that ANAC042 regulates conserved and lineage-specific phytoalexin pathways in Arabidopsis. The latter suggests that it is an opportunistic TF that has coopted lineage-specific genes into phytoalexin metabolism, thus providing an exception to the current paradigm.