A guide to designing cell-surface receptors in plants

Cell-surface receptors perceive environmental cues and trigger appropriate responses. In plants, these receptors comprise ectodomain, juxta-membrane, and cytosolic regions that define ligand specificity, modulate co-receptor associations, and fine-tune downstream signaling, respectively. Here we highlight the mechanistic principles underlying each module and discuss strategies to reprogram them. By integrating structural insights with illustrative examples, we provide a blueprint for designing cell-surface receptors with customized recognition specificity and programmable outputs, offering new opportunities to enhance plant resilience in the face of rapid climate change.