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Updated: May 13, 2026

Measurements of Physiological Stress Responses in C. Elegans
Published on: May 21, 2020
Plant eccDNA as drivers of genome plasticity and stress adaptation
Hanfang Ni1, Damar López-Arredondo2, Mian Gu1
1National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Lower-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing 210095, China.
Abstract:
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is now recognized as a widespread and functionally significant feature of plant genomes. Evidence indicates that eccDNAs contribute to genome plasticity and gene regulation, particularly during abiotic stress. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, dynamics, and functions of plant eccDNAs, including those enriched in transposable elements, protein-coding genes, and repetitive sequences, and their emerging roles in stress tolerance. We evaluate leading models of eccDNA biogenesis, emphasizing mechanisms tied to DNA damage repair and recombination, informed by plant and nonplant systems. We also highlight recent discoveries on eccDNA accumulation, transmission, and regulatory potential, underscoring the need to integrate eccDNA biology into mainstream plant genomics and stress-adaptation research.
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