In an article entitled, “JAV1 controls jasmonate-regulated plant defense” published in Molecular Cell (50, 504–515, May 23, 2013), the lead author Po Hu and four of his associates affiliated to the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing have identified and characterized JAV1, a key gene in the jasmonate pathway. Their study has revealed  that this key gene functions as a negative regulator to control plant defense. When encountering insect attack and pathogen infection, plants accumulate jasmonates that trigger JAV1 degradation via the 26S proteasome. Aactivating defensive gene expression it elevates resistances against both insects and pathogens.