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Decoding small peptides: Regulators of plant growth and stress resilience

Summary

Small peptides are tiny protein-like molecules that act as chemical messengers in plants, controlling growth, development, and how plants respond to stress. Scientists have recently developed better tools to find and study these peptides, discovering they play important roles in helping plants adapt to harsh environments like drought and disease. These findings could help create crops that are more resilient and productive, addressing challenges posed by climate change and food security.

Background

Small peptides (SPs) are pivotal signaling molecules that regulate plant growth, development, and stress responses. Recent advances in sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and biochemical techniques have significantly enhanced SP identification and characterization. SPs are encoded by short open reading frames and can be classified into conventional peptides and non-conventional peptides with diverse biological functions.

Objective

This review provides a comprehensive overview of SP characteristics, identification methodologies, and biological roles in plant growth and development. It examines SP signaling pathways in regulating plant-microbial interactions and responses to abiotic stresses, nutrient deficiencies, and biotic challenges. The review aims to advance understanding of SPs for improving plant resilience and productivity.

Results

The review identifies approximately 30 peptide families with specific roles in root development, stomatal differentiation, and reproductive growth. Key SPs include RGF, PSK, CLE, RALF, EPF/EPFL, and LURE peptides functioning through receptor-mediated signaling cascades. NCPs derived from noncoding regions show diverse roles in stress responses and developmental regulation with potential agricultural applications.

Conclusion

SPs represent crucial regulators of plant physiology with significant potential for crop improvement and environmental stress adaptation. Integration of recent technological advances enables comprehensive SP identification and functional characterization. Future research should focus on efficient screening, field validation, and practical applications to enhance plant resilience and agricultural productivity.
  • Published in:Journal of Integrative Plant Biology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40059863, DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13873
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