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Intermolecular-Interaction-Driven Adaptive Remodeling: A Network Perspective on Plant Abiotic Stress Responses
Leidi Liu1,2, Xiangfei Cheng1,2, Yihua Xu1
1Center for Molecular Interactions and Translational Applications, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Plant stress adaptation relies on complex intermolecular interactions, not just single genes. This review proposes a framework where dynamic molecular networks remodel plant physiology for survival and productivity under abiotic stress.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- Abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, etc.) disrupt plant homeostasis, affecting growth and productivity.
- While stress-responsive molecules are known, understanding coordinated adaptation from molecular events to physiological outputs remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an intermolecular interaction-driven adaptive remodeling framework for plant abiotic stress responses.
- To elucidate how dynamic molecular interactions orchestrate plant survival, recovery, and productivity under stress.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on plant abiotic stress signaling and adaptation.
- Conceptual framework development integrating molecular events, signaling hubs, and physiological outputs.
- Emphasis on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chromatin-associated mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Stress tolerance emerges from dynamic changes in molecular interactions (receptor-ligand, protein-protein, etc.).
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as integrative redox switches connecting stress sensing to senescence and recovery.
- Interaction networks converge on core signaling hubs (ABA, ROS, Ca2+, kinases) to remodel plant traits.
Conclusions:
- An interaction-centered framework bridges molecular perception and physiological adaptation for climate-resilient agriculture.
- Natural variation, multi-omics, and genome editing can translate stress biology into crop resilience.
- Understanding these networks is crucial for developing crops with enhanced abiotic stress tolerance.
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