Q&A: How does peptide signaling direct plant development?

Maike Breiden,Rüdiger Simon

doi:10.1186/s12915-016-0280-3

Abstract

A significant part of the communication between plant cells is mediated by signaling peptides and their corresponding plasma membrane-localized receptor-like kinases. This communication mechanism serves as a key regulatory unit for coordination of plant growth and development. In the past years more peptide–receptor signaling pathways have been shown to regulate developmental processes, such as shoot and root meristem maintenance, seed formation, and floral abscission. More detailed understanding of the processes behind this regulation might also be helpful to increase the yield of crop plants.

Highlights

A significant part of the communication between plant cells is mediated by signaling peptides and their corresponding plasma membrane-localized receptor-like kinases
tomato systemin (TomSys) is involved in the production of jasmonic acid, which is the main wound response signal, initiating, for example, intracellular signaling cascades via mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) [2, 3]
What signaling peptides are known? Approximately 13 plant peptide families have been identified so far, including CLE (CLAVATA3/EMBRYOSURROUNDING REGION, CLV3/ESR) and IDA (INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION), with more than 1000 genes encoding putative small signaling molecules [4]. They can be grouped into two classes, the small post-translationally modified peptides and the cysteine-rich polypeptides [5]

Summary

Introduction

A significant part of the communication between plant cells is mediated by signaling peptides and their corresponding plasma membrane-localized receptor-like kinases. 13 plant peptide families have been identified so far, including CLE (CLAVATA3/EMBRYOSURROUNDING REGION, CLV3/ESR) and IDA (INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION), with more than 1000 genes encoding putative small signaling molecules [4]. Peptide families that belong to the small post-translationally modified peptides are, for example, the CLE, IDA, and RGF (ROOT GROWTH FACTOR) peptides [7,8,9,10].

Results

Conclusion