Ethylene signaling in rice and <i>Arabidopsis</i>: from the perspective of protein complexes

Ethylene, a potent gaseous hormone, regulates crucial processes in plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation. Over the past three decades, the ethylene signaling pathway has been elucidated in the dicot model plant <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>, tracing the signal cascade from receptors on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to transcription factors in the nucleus. Rice, a monocot adapted to semi-aquatic environments, shares core elements of this pathway but also displays unique regulatory mechanisms reflecting its ecological adaptations. Studies on ethylene signaling in rice have added more insight into the dynamic regulation of this pathway. This review summarizes recent advances in ethylene signaling in rice and <italic>Arabidopsis</italic>, highlighting how multiple protein complexes orchestrate a sophisticated regulatory network spanning ligand perception, signal transduction, translational regulation, and nuclear signal amplification, thereby ensuring precise and coordinated hormonal responses.