Plant Peptides on the Rise: From Historical Insight to Future Applications

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Plant peptides are crucial signaling molecules involved in development, stress adaptation, and immunity.
• Research has evolved from canonical peptides (CPs) to non-canonical peptides (NCPs) from small open reading frames.
• Understanding peptide biosynthesis and function is key to plant science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and evolution of plant peptide research.
• To delineate the biosynthesis and diverse functions of CPs and NCPs.
• To explore agricultural and therapeutic applications of plant peptides.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of plant peptide research.
• Analysis of biosynthetic pathways for CPs and NCPs.
• Discussion of functional roles and applications.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct biosynthetic pathways for CPs and NCPs.
• Documented diverse functions including development, stress, and defense.
• Highlighted agricultural applications like genetic engineering and trait optimization.
• Noted therapeutic potential for antimicrobial and anticancer properties.

Conclusions:

• Plant peptides offer significant potential for crop improvement and biopharmaceuticals.
• Challenges in functional validation, field application, and production need addressing.
• Future research integrating multi-omics, AI, and genome editing is crucial.