Peptide Signaling Mechanisms in Plant Development

Peptide signalling has emerged as a fundamental mode of intercellular communication in plants, coordinating growth, differentiation and responses to environmental cues. Small secreted peptides are generated from larger precursors through specific proteolytic processing and often carry post-translational modifications such as hydroxylation or sulfation. These mature peptides interact with membrane-embedded receptor-like kinases to trigger phosphorylation cascades that modulate gene expression, cell proliferation and tissue patterning. Key peptide families include the CLAVATA3/Endosperm Surrounding Region-related (CLE) peptides, C-Terminally Encoded Peptides (CEP) and Phytosulfokines (PSK), each contributing to distinct developmental processes from root meristem maintenance to shoot apical meristem regulation and systemic nutrient sensing. Through local and systemic routes—including phloem mobility—peptide signals integrate shoot and root functions, enabling adaptive growth under variable conditions. Advances in structural biology and peptidomics have deepened our understanding of ligand–receptor specificity and the diversity of the plant secreted peptidome, laying the groundwork for targeted manipulation of developmental pathways in crops.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated new receptor–coreceptor partnerships and long-distance signalling circuits. Work on an Arabidopsis CLE peptide revealed that a CLE family member binds directly to a specific leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, triggering its phosphorylation and recruitment of SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE coreceptors to fine-tune tapetum gene expression and normal pollen development. Separately, a phloem-mobile CEPD-like dodecapeptide has been identified as a shoot-derived cue that responds to low shoot nitrogen status. Upon translocation to roots, this peptide enhances high-affinity nitrate uptake and root-to-shoot transport, acting in concert with root-originating CEPD1 and CEPD2 signals. Together, these findings highlight the precision of peptide-mediated control over reproductive success and nutrient homeostasis.

Peptide Signaling Mechanisms in Plant Development publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in peptide signaling mechanisms in plant development across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

CLE peptide: A small secreted signalling peptide from the CLAVATA3/Endosperm Surrounding Region family that regulates stem cell homeostasis and tissue patterning.

CEP peptide: C-Terminally Encoded Peptide involved in systemic nitrogen signalling, integrating root and shoot nitrogen status to modulate nutrient uptake.

Receptor-like kinase (RLK): A membrane-spanning protein with extracellular ligand-binding domains and intracellular kinase domains that initiate phosphorylation cascades upon peptide binding.

Coreceptor: A secondary receptor that associates with a primary RLK to stabilise ligand binding and amplify signal transduction.

Peptidome: The complete set of endogenous peptides present in a cell or tissue, reflecting both processed signalling molecules and degradation fragments.

References

1. A comprehensive atlas of endogenous peptides in maize. iMeta (2024).
2. PXL1 and SERKs act as receptor–coreceptor complexes for the CLE19 peptide to regulate pollen development. Nature Communications (2023).
3. Shoot-to-root mobile CEPD-like 2 integrates shoot nitrogen status to systemically regulate nitrate uptake in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications (2020).
4. Perception of root‐active CLE peptides requires CORYNE function in the phloem vasculature. EMBO Reports (2017).