Plant non-canonical peptides: From identification to mechanisms

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Plant peptides are crucial regulators of growth, development, immunity, and environmental adaptation.
• Specific peptides like systemin and Plant Elicitor Peptides (PEPs) show potential for enhancing disease resistance in crops.
• Peptides are classified as canonical (CPs), non-canonical (NCPs), and non-ribosomal (NRPs) based on structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of plant peptides, including their classification, biosynthesis, and functional mechanisms.
• To systematically summarize historical and recent advances in plant peptide identification strategies.
• To highlight challenges in peptide discovery and functional annotation and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Peptidogenomics and mass spectrometry for genome-wide endogenous peptide discovery.
• Analysis of peptides translated from untranslated regions (UTRs) and non-coding RNAs.
• Review of existing literature on plant peptide classification, biosynthesis, and functional mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Advances in peptidogenomics and mass spectrometry have significantly expanded the known plant peptidome.
• Numerous endogenous peptides, including those from UTRs and non-coding RNAs, have been discovered.
• A comprehensive understanding of peptide classification, biosynthesis, and regulatory roles in various biological processes has been established.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, challenges remain in plant peptide discovery and functional annotation.
• Integration of high-throughput technologies, functional genomics, and synthetic biology is proposed.
• These integrated approaches are essential to unlock the potential of plant peptides for crop improvement and innovation.