The journal Cell has published a new study by Dr. Raul Zavaliev and colleagues in Xinnian Dong’s group. Formation of NPR1 Condensates Promotes Cell Survival during the Plant Immune Response sheds light on the biochemical function of the plant immune regulator NPR1. Activated by salicylic acid, it promotes cell survival against a broad spectrum of pathogens and environmental stresses by forming protein condensates. These condensates are enriched with protein-degrading enzymes as well as stress-responsive proteins, including many immune receptors. Raul’s team showed that NPR1 has a cytoplasmic function in sequestering and degrading stress proteins, in addition to its nuclear function activating transcription of stress-responsive genes. Congratulations to Raul, Raj, Tianyuan and Xinnian! A Preview article in the same issue by Tanya Mittag and Prof. Lucia Strader, I will survive: How NPR1 condensation promotes plant cell survival, points to the importance of this research.