Antioxidation is a Common Defense Strategy for Different Species Under Mechanical Stress

Mechanical stress, a ubiquitous physical stimulus, triggers oxidative stress through mechanotransduction in diverse organisms, driving the evolution of antioxidant defense systems. This perspective deciphers the molecular evolutionary principles governing these antioxidant strategies, uncovering both conserved and lineage-specific adaptations across biological kingdoms. We demonstrate that redox regulation-an ancient and evolutionarily conserved mechanism-serves as a core defense against mechanical stress-induced oxidative damage, albeit with kingdom-specific variations. Notably, mechanosensors such as Piezo channels are conserved in animals and plants, initiating antioxidant responses via Ca^{2 +} signaling. While animals rely on the Nrf2 regulatory axis to upregulate antioxidant enzymes, plants deploy intricate networks involving SOD, CAT, and non-enzymatic antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid). In contrast, extremophilic microorganisms employ streamlined yet highly efficient strategies, including multifunctional molecules like DMSP, to mitigate oxidative stress. Our comparative analysis highlights the evolutionary significance of these adaptations, shaped by ecological pressures and physiological constraints. Beyond elucidating life's evolutionary trajectory, these insights hold translational potential-from enhancing crop stress tolerance to informing biomaterial innovations and therapeutic interventions for oxidative disorders.