Function and Progress of Non-Histone Acetylation in Rice

Accumulating evidence from recent studies has highlighted the critical regulatory functions of non-histone protein acetylation in rice biological processes. This review systematically synthesizes current advances in characterizing the functional attributes and regulatory mechanisms of non-histone acetylation in rice, with a specific focus on its roles in regulating gene expression, modulating metabolic enzyme activities, and mediating stress responses. Emerging studies demonstrate that non-histone acetylation dynamically modulates transcription factors, metabolic enzymes, and other pivotal functional proteins to orchestrate essential physiological processes, including growth and development, photosynthetic efficiency, and environmental stress adaptation. Using mass spectrometry, gene editing, and related technologies, researchers have identified multiple acetyltransferases and deacetylases that regulate protein stability, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. Despite these advances, challenges persist, such as the complexity of the acetylation regulatory networks and species-specific differences in divergences in cereal crops. Future investigations should integrate multi-omics approaches to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of this post-translational modification, thereby facilitating the development of targeted genetic engineering strategies for rice improvement.