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Local peptide signalling induces stomatal closure under drought stress
Akie Shimotohno1,2, Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi3, Yujuan Du4
1Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan. ashimo@itbm.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
Nature Communications
|December 24, 2025
Summary
Plants use a peptide signal (CLE5p) to rapidly close stomata during drought, bypassing the need for abscisic acid (ABA) or reactive oxygen species (ROS). This discovery reveals a conserved drought survival mechanism in plants.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Plant Physiology
- Plant Stress Response
Background:
- Plants close stomata to conserve water during drought, a process linked to abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation.
- The molecular mechanisms coordinating rapid stomatal closure and delayed ABA buildup under stress are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid stomatal closure response to drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- To identify signaling components that regulate stomatal movement independently of ABA biosynthesis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated Arabidopsis thaliana loss-of-function mutants for CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION 5 (CLE5).
- Characterized the role of the CLE5 peptide (CLE5p) and its interaction with the BAM1-GHR1 receptor complex in guard cells.
- Analyzed the phosphorylation of SNF1-related protein kinases (SRK2E and SRK2D) by the BAM1-GHR1-CLE5p module.
Main Results:
- CLE5 mutants exhibit reduced drought tolerance.
- CLE5p directly induces stomatal closure by activating the BAM1-GHR1 receptor complex in guard cells.
- The BAM1-GHR1-CLE5p module phosphorylates SRK2E and SRK2D, regulating stomatal movement and gene expression without increasing ABA or ROS.
Conclusions:
- A novel signaling pathway involving CLE5p, BAM1-GHR1, and SRK2 kinases enables rapid, ABA-independent stomatal closure.
- This peptide-mediated rapid stomatal closure is a conserved plant survival strategy with potential applications in developing drought-resistant crops.
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