Degrade or Silence? - RNA Turnover Takes Control of Epicuticular Wax Synthesis.

Epicuticular waxes serve as a protective layer on plant aerial surfaces. The chemical reactions of wax biosynthesis are well understood, but little is known about the underlying regulatory mechanisms. New data from Yang et al. and Lange et al. argue that RNA degradation and silencing play a key role in regulating the content of alkanes, the most abundant components of wax.