Identification of small secreted peptides (SSPs) in maize and expression analysis of partial SSP genes in reproductive tissues

Peptide hormones in plants

Peptide hormones are defined as small secreted polypeptide-based intercellular communication signal molecules. Such peptide hormones are encoded by nuclear genes, and often go through proteolytic processing of preproproteins and post-translational modifications. Most peptide hormones are secreted out of the cell to interact with membrane-associated receptors in neighboring cells, and subsequently activate signal transductions, leading to changes in gene expression and cellular responses. Since the discovery of the first plant peptide hormone, systemin, in tomato in 1991, putative peptide hormones have continuously been identified in different plant species, showing their importance in both short- and long-range signal transductions. The roles of peptide hormones are implicated in, but not limited to, processes such as self-incompatibility, pollination, fertilization, embryogenesis, endosperm development, stem cell regulation, plant architecture, tissue differentiation, organogenesis, dehiscence, senescence, plant-pathogen and plant-insect interactions, and stress responses. This article, collectively written by researchers in this field, aims to provide a general overview for the discoveries, functions, chemical natures, transcriptional regulations, and post-translational modifications of peptide hormones in plants. We also updated recent discoveries in receptor kinases underlying the peptide hormone sensing and down-stream signal pathways. Future prospective and challenges will also be discussed at the end of the article.

Bioactive peptides with potential anticancer properties from various food protein sources: status of recent research, production technologies, and developments

Recently, bioactive peptides, from natural resources, have attracted remarkable attention as nutraceutical treasures and the health benefits of their consumption have extensively been studied. Therapies based on bioactive peptides have been recognized as an innovative and promising alternative method for dangerous diseases such as cancer. Indeed, there has been enormous interest in nutraceuticals and bioactive-based chemopreventive molecules as a potential opportunity to manage chronic diseases, including cancer at different stages, rather than the traditionally used therapies. The relative safety and efficacy of these peptides in targeting only the tumor cells without affecting the normal cells make them attractive alternatives to existing pharmaceuticals for the treatment, management, and prevention of cancer, being able to act as potential physiological modulators of metabolism during their intestinal digestion. Novel bioactive peptides derived from food sources can be beneficial as anticancer nutraceuticals and provide a basis for the pharmaceutical development of food-derived bioactive peptides. Bioactive peptides can be generated through different protein hydrolysis methods and purified using advanced chromatographic techniques. Moreover, establishing bioactive peptides' efficacy and mechanism of action can provide alternative methods for cancer prevention and management. Most of the research on anticancer peptides is carried out on cell lines with very limited research being investigated in animal models or human clinical models. In this context, this review article comprehensively discusses anticancer peptides': production, isolation, therapeutic strategies, mechanism of action, and application in cancer therapy.

Genome-wide Characterization of Small Secreted Peptides in Nicotiana tabacum and Functional Assessment of NtLTP25 in Plant Immunity

Small secreted peptides (SSPs), serving as signaling molecules for intercellular communication, play significant regulatory roles in plant growth, development, pathogen immunity, and responses to abiotic stress. Despite several SSPs, such as PIP, PSK, and PSY having been identified to participate in plant immunity, the majority of SSPs remain understudied, necessitating the exploration and identification of SSPs regulating plant immunity from vast genomic resources. Here we systematically characterized 756 putative SSPs across the genome of Nicotiana tabacum. 173 SSPs were further annotated as established SSPs, such as nsLTP, CAPE, and CEP. Furthermore, we detected the expression of 484 putative SSP genes in five tissues, with 83 SSPs displaying tissue-specific expression. Transcriptomic analysis of tobacco roots under plant defense hormones revealed that 46 SSPs exhibited specific responsiveness to salicylic acid (SA), and such response was antagonistically regulated by methyl jasmonate. It's worth noting that among these 46 SSPs, 16 members belong to nsLTP family, and one of them, NtLTP25, was discovered to enhance tobacco's resistance against Phytophthora nicotianae. Overexpression of NtLTP25 in tobacco enhanced the expression of ICS1, subsequently stimulating the biosynthesis of SA and the expression of NPR1 and pathogenesis-related genes. Concurrently, NtLTP25 overexpression activated genes associated with ROS scavenging, consequently mitigating the accumulation of ROS during the subsequent phases of pathogenesis. These discoveries indicate that these 46 SSPs, especially the 16 nsLTPs, might have a vital role in governing plant immunity that relies on SA signaling. This offers a valuable source for pinpointing SSPs involved in regulating plant immunity.

Rice small secreted peptide, OsRALF26, recognized by FERONIA-like receptor 1 induces immunity in rice and Arabidopsis

Rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs), belonging to a family of small secreted peptides, have been considered as important signaling molecules in diverse biological processes, including immunity. Current studies on RALF-modulated immunity mainly focus on Arabidopsis, but little is reported in crop plants. The rice immune receptor XA21 confers immunity to the bacterial blight pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Here, we pursued functional characterization of rice RALF26 (OsRALF26) up-regulated by Xoo during XA21-mediated immune response. When applied exogenously as a recombinant peptide, OsRALF26 induced a series of immune responses, including pathogenesis-related genes (PRs) induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and callose deposition in rice and/or Arabidopsis. Transgenic rice and Arabidopsis overexpressing OsRALF26 exhibited significantly enhanced resistance to Xoo and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000), respectively. In yeast two-hybrid, pull-down assays, and co-immunoprecipitation analyses, rice FER-like receptor 1 (OsFLR1) was identified as a receptor of OsRALF26. Transient expression of OsFLR1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves displayed significantly increased ROS production and callose deposition after OsRALF26 treatment. Together, we propose that OsRALF26 induced by Xoo in an XA21-dependent manner is perceived by OsFLR1 and may play a novel role in the enforcement of XA21-mediated immunity.

Hempseed protein-derived short- and medium-chain peptides and their multifunctional properties

Nowadays, the growing knowledge about the high nutritional value and potential functionality of hempseeds, the edible fruits of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, has sparked a surge in interest in exploring the worthwhile attributes of hempseed proteins and peptides. This trend aligns with the increasing popularity of hemp-based food, assuming a vital role in the global food chain. This chapter targets the nutritional and chemical composition of hempseed in terms of short- and medium-chain bioactive peptides. The analytical approaches for their characterization and multifunctional properties are summarized in detail. Moreover, the processing, functionality, and application of various hempseed protein products are discussed. In the final part of the chapter-for evaluating their propensity to be transported by intestinal cells-the transepithelial transport of peptides within hempseed protein hydrolysate is highlighted.

Small secreted peptides (SSPs) in tomato and their potential roles in drought stress response

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and abiotic stresses often cause serious problems in tomato production. It is thus important to identify new regulators in stress response and to devise new approaches to promote stress tolerance in tomato. Previous studies have shown that small secreted peptides (SSPs) are important signal molecules regulating plant growth and stress response by mediating intercellular communication. However, little is known about tomato SSPs, especially their roles in responding to abiotic stresses. Here we report the identification of 1,050 putative SSPs in the tomato genome, 557 of which were classified into 38 known SSP families based on their conserved domains. GO and transcriptome analyses revealed that a large proportion of SlSSPs might be involved in abiotic stress response. Further analysis indicated that stress response related cis-elements were present on the SlCEP promotors and a number of SlCEPs were significantly upregulated by drought treatments. Among the drought-inducible SlCEPs, SlCEP10 and SlCEP11b were selected for further analysis via exogenous application of synthetic peptides. The results showed that treatments with both SlCEP10 and SlCEP11b peptides enhanced tomato drought stress tolerance, indicating the potential roles of SlSSPs in abiotic stress response.

Small secreted peptides encoded on the wheat (triticum aestivum L.) genome and their potential roles in stress responses

Small secreted peptides (SSPs) are important signals for cell-to-cell communication in plant, involved in a variety of growth and developmental processes, as well as responses to stresses. While a large number of SSPs have been identified and characterized in various plant species, little is known about SSPs in wheat, one of the most important cereal crops. In this study, 4,981 putative SSPs were identified on the wheat genome, among which 1,790 TaSSPs were grouped into 38 known SSP families. The result also suggested that a large number of the putaitive wheat SSPs, Cys-rich peptides in particular, remained to be characterized. Several TaSSP genes were found to encode multiple SSP domains, including CLE, HEVEIN and HAIRPININ domains, and two potentially novel TaSSP family DYY and CRP8CI were identified manually among unpredicted TaSSPs. Analysis on the transcriptomic data showed that a great proportion of TaSSPs were expressed in response to abiotic stresses. Exogenous application of the TaCEPID peptide encoded by TraesCS1D02G130700 enhanced the tolerance of wheat plants to drought and salinity, suggesting porential roles of SSPs in regulating stress responses in wheat.

Peptidome: Chaos or Inevitability

Thousands of naturally occurring peptides differing in their origin, abundance and possible functions have been identified in the tissue and biological fluids of vertebrates, insects, fungi, plants and bacteria. These peptide pools are referred to as intracellular or extracellular peptidomes, and besides a small proportion of well-characterized peptide hormones and defense peptides, are poorly characterized. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that unknown bioactive peptides are hidden in the peptidomes of different organisms. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of generation and properties of peptidomes across different organisms. Based on their origin, we propose three large peptide groups-functional protein "degradome", small open reading frame (smORF)-encoded peptides (smORFome) and specific precursor-derived peptides. The composition of peptide pools identified by mass-spectrometry analysis in human cells, plants, yeast and bacteria is compared and discussed. The functions of different peptide groups, for example the role of the "degradome" in promoting defense signaling, are also considered.

Dynamic transcriptome and co-expression analysis suggest the potential roles of small secreted peptides from Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) in low nitrogen stress response

Small secreted peptides (SSPs) regulate nitrogen (N) response and signaling in plants. Although much progress has been made in understanding the functions of SSPs in N response, very little information is available regarding non-model plants. Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), a dicotyledonous crop, has a good adaptability to low N (LN) stress; however, little is known regarding the associated mechanisms underlying this adaptation. In this study, 932 putative SSPs were genome-wide characterized in TB genome. Of these SSPs, 233 SSPs were annotated as established SSPs, such as CLE, RALF, PSK, and CEP peptides. The gene expression of 675 putative SSPs was detected in five tissues and 258 SSPs were tissue-specific expressed genes. To analyze the responses of TB SSPs to LN, the dynamic expression analysis of TB roots under LN stress was conducted by RNA-seq. The expression of 378 putative TB SSP genes was detected with diverse expression patterns under LN stress, and some important LN-responsive SSPs were identified. Co-expression analysis suggested SSPs may regulate the adaptability of TB under LN conditions by modulating the expression of the genes involved in N transport and assimilation and IAA signaling. Furthermore, 53 LN stress-responsive RLKs encoding genes were identified and they were predicted as potential SSP receptors. This study expands the repertoire of SSPs in plants and provides useful information for further investigation of the functions of Tartary buckwheat SSPs in LN stress responses.

Advances and perspectives in discovery and functional analysis of small secreted proteins in plants

Small secreted proteins (SSPs) are less than 250 amino acids in length and are actively transported out of cells through conventional protein secretion pathways or unconventional protein secretion pathways. In plants, SSPs have been found to play important roles in various processes, including plant growth and development, plant response to abiotic and biotic stresses, and beneficial plant-microbe interactions. Over the past 10 years, substantial progress has been made in the identification and functional characterization of SSPs in several plant species relevant to agriculture, bioenergy, and horticulture. Yet, there are potentially a lot of SSPs that have not been discovered in plant genomes, which is largely due to limitations of existing computational algorithms. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics research, as well as the development of new computational algorithms based on machine learning, provide unprecedented capabilities for genome-wide discovery of novel SSPs in plants. In this review, we summarize known SSPs and their functions in various plant species. Then we provide an update on the computational and experimental approaches that can be used to discover new SSPs. Finally, we discuss strategies for elucidating the biological functions of SSPs in plants.

Possible role of small secreted peptides (SSPs) in immune signaling in bryophytes

Plants utilize a plethora of peptide signals to regulate their immune response. Peptide ligands and their cognate receptors involved in immune signaling share common motifs among many species of vascular plants. However, the origin and evolution of immune peptides is still poorly understood. Here, we searched for genes encoding small secreted peptides in the genomes of three bryophyte lineages-mosses, liverworts and hornworts-that occupy a critical position in the study of land plant evolution. We found that bryophytes shared common predicted small secreted peptides (SSPs) with vascular plants. The number of SSPs is higher in the genomes of mosses than in both the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and the hornwort Anthoceros sp. The synthetic peptide elicitors-AtPEP and StPEP-specific for vascular plants, triggered ROS production in the protonema of the moss Physcomitrella patens, suggesting the possibility of recognizing peptide ligands from angiosperms by moss receptors. Mass spectrometry analysis of the moss Physcomitrella patens, both the wild type and the Δcerk mutant secretomes, revealed peptides that specifically responded to chitosan treatment, suggesting their role in immune signaling.

Nitrate dose-responsive transcriptome analysis identifies transcription factors and small secreted peptides involved in nitrogen response in Tartary buckwheat

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) is an economically important pseudocereal crop, which can adapt well to extreme environments, including low nitrogen (LN) stress. However, little is known regarding the associated molecular mechanisms. In this study, the molecular mechanism of Tartary buckwheat roots in response to different doses of nitrate was investigated by combining physiological changes with transcriptional regulatory network. LN improved elongation and branching of lateral roots, indicating that the plasticity of lateral roots drives the adaption of Tartary buckwheat under LN condition. The roots of the seedlings that were cultivated under four N conditions were selected for RNA-Seq analysis. In total 1686 nitrate dose-responsive genes were identified. Of these genes, 16 genes encoding N transporters showed response to N availability, and they may play important roles in N transport and root system architecture in Tartary buckwheat roots. 108 transcription factors (TFs) showed dose-response to N availability, and they may regulate N response and root growth under varied N conditions by modulating the expression of N transporters. A NIN-like protein, FtNLP7, was identified and it may contribute to the transcriptional regulation of N transporters. Furthermore, 81 N-responsive genes were identified as the small secreted peptides (SSPs). 48 N-responsive SSPs were annotated as hypothetical proteins and they may be the species-specific proteins of Tartary buckwheat. This paper provides useful information for further investigation of the mechanisms underlying the adaptation of Tartary buckwheat under N-deficient condition.

Anticancer property of Hemp Bioactive Peptides in Hep3B liver cancer cells through Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway

Foodborne protein hydrolysates exhibit biological activity that may be therapeutic in a number of human disease settings. Hemp peptides (HP) generated by controlled hydrolysis of hemp proteins have a number of health benefits and are of pharmaceutical value. In the present study, we produce small molecular weight HP from hemp seed and investigate its anticancer properties in Hep3B human liver cancer cells. We demonstrate that HP treatment increased apoptosis, reduced cell viability, and reduced cell migration in Hep3B human liver cancer cells without affecting the normal liver cell line L02. We correlate these phenotypes with increased cellular ROS levels, upregulation of cleaved caspase 3 and Bad, and downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. HP treatment led to increased Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation, with subsequent downregulation of β-catenin, suggesting β-catenin signaling modulation as a critical mechanism by which HP exhibits anticancer properties. Our findings suggest HP are of potential therapeutic interest for liver cancer treatment.

Peptides Derived From the α-Core and γ-Core Regions of a Putative Silybum marianum Flower Defensin Show Antifungal Activity Against Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium graminearum is the etiological agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease that produces a significant decrease in wheat crop yield and it is further aggravated by the presence of mycotoxins in the affected grains that may cause health problems to humans and animals. Plant defensins and defensin-like proteins are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); they are small basic, cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) ubiquitously expressed in the plant kingdom and mostly involved in host defence. They present a highly variable sequence but a conserved structure. The γ-core located in the C-terminal region of plant defensins has a conserved β-hairpin structure and is a well-known determinant of the antimicrobial activity among disulphide-containing AMPs. Another conserved motif of plant defensins is the α-core located in the N-terminal region, not conserved among the disulphide-containing AMPs, it has not been yet extensively studied. In this report, we have cloned the putative antimicrobial protein DefSm2, expressed in flowers of the wild plant Silybum marianum. The cDNA encodes a protein with two fused basic domains of an N-terminal defensin domain (DefSm2-D) and a C-terminal Arg-rich and Lys-rich domain. To further characterize the DefSm2-D domain, we built a 3D template-based model that will serve to support the design of novel antifungal peptides. We have designed four potential antifungal peptides: two from the DefSm2-D α-core region (SmAP_α1-21 and SmAP_α10-21) and two from the γ-core region (SmAP_γ27-44 and SmAP_γ29-35). We have chemically synthesized and purified the peptides and further characterized them by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. SmAP_α1-21, SmAP_α10-21, and SmAP_γ27-44 inhibited the growth of the phytopathogen F. graminearum at low micromolar concentrations. Conidia exposure to the fungicidal concentration of the peptides caused membrane permeabilization to the fluorescent probe propidium iodide (PI), suggesting that this is one of the main contributing factors in fungal cell killing. Furthermore, conidia treated for 0.5h showed cytoplasmic disorganization as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Remarkably, the peptides derived from the α-core induced morphological changes on the conidia cell wall, which is a promising target since its distinctive biochemical and structural organization is absent in plant and mammalian cells.

Boiled Abalone Byproduct Peptide Exhibits Anti-Tumor Activity in HT1080 Cells and HUVECs by Suppressing the Metastasis and Angiogenesis in Vitro

Abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) is a precious seafood in the market. It has been reported that biological active substances derived from abalone have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-thrombosis potential. However, there were few studies to assess whether they have anti-cancer potential. In this study, we evaluated the anti-metastasis and anti-pro-angiogenic factors and mechanism of action of boiled abalone byproduct peptide (BABP, EMDEAQDPSEW) in human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The results demonstrated that BABP treatment significantly lowers migration and the invasion of HT1080 cells and HUVECs. BABP inhibits phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity by blocking mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-κB signaling and hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α accumulation through suppressing the AKT/mTOR signal pathway. BABP treatment inhibits VEGF-induced VEGFR-2 expression and tube formation in HUVECs. The effect of BABP on anti-metastatic and anti-vascular activity in HT1080 cells and HUVECs revealed that BABP may be a potential pharmacophore for tumor therapy in the future.

Defensin-like peptides in wheat analyzed by whole-transcriptome sequencing: a focus on structural diversity and role in induced resistance

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the main components of the plant innate immune system. Defensins represent the most important AMP family involved in defense and non-defense functions. In this work, global RNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly were performed to explore the diversity of defensin-like (DEFL) genes in the wheat Triticum kiharae and to study their role in induced resistance (IR) mediated by the elicitor metabolites of a non-pathogenic strain FS-94 of Fusarium sambucinum. Using a combination of two pipelines for DEFL mining in transcriptome data sets, as many as 143 DEFL genes were identified in T. kiharae, the vast majority of them represent novel genes. According to the number of cysteine residues and the cysteine motif, wheat DEFLs were classified into ten groups. Classical defensins with a characteristic 8-Cys motif assigned to group 1 DEFLs represent the most abundant group comprising 52 family members. DEFLs with a characteristic 4-Cys motif CX{3,5}CX{8,17}CX{4,6}C named group 4 DEFLs previously found only in legumes were discovered in wheat. Within DEFL groups, subgroups of similar sequences originated by duplication events were isolated. Variation among DEFLs within subgroups is due to amino acid substitutions and insertions/deletions of amino acid sequences. To identify IR-related DEFL genes, transcriptional changes in DEFL gene expression during elicitor-mediated IR were monitored. Transcriptional diversity of DEFL genes in wheat seedlings in response to the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, FS-94 elicitors, and the combination of both (elicitors + fungus) was demonstrated, with specific sets of up- and down-regulated DEFL genes. DEFL expression profiling allowed us to gain insight into the mode of action of the elicitors from F. sambucinum. We discovered that the elicitors up-regulated a set of 24 DEFL genes. After challenge inoculation with F. oxysporum, another set of 22 DEFLs showed enhanced expression in IR-displaying seedlings. These DEFLs, in concert with other defense molecules, are suggested to determine enhanced resistance of elicitor-pretreated wheat seedlings. In addition to providing a better understanding of the mode of action of the elicitors from FS-94 in controlling diseases, up-regulated IR-specific DEFL genes represent novel candidates for genetic transformation of plants and development of pathogen-resistant crops.

Induction of apoptotic effects of anti-proliferative zeolite X from coal fly ash on cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines

The synthesised zeolite X from coal fly ash showed significant cytotoxic activity in contradiction of HeLa cells (cervical cancer) in a concentration-dependent way at concentrations ranges from 200 µg to 0.781 µg/ml as shown by MTT assay and failed to cause cytotoxic effect in normal cells (Gh239). Cell cycle analysis exposed that zeolite X (10 and 15 µg/ml) endorses cell growth inhibition by inducing G2/M phase arrest in HeLa cells as observed using flow cytometry. The confocal microscopic results depicted increased early apoptotic related changes in HeLa cell lines induced by zeolite X at a dosage of 10, 15 and 20 µg/ml. Zeolite X at a dosage of 10, 15 and 20 µg/ml in HeLa cells showed fragmentation of DNA by ladder pattern thereby indicates that cell death is related with apoptosis. By the increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, zeolite X leads to the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation and allow the cells to enter apoptosis. These collective results evidently showed that the influence of mitochondria-mediated signalling pathway in zeolite X induced apoptosis and intensely delivered investigational suggestion for the use of zeolite X as a significant curative agent in the preclusion and therapy of human cervical carcinoma.

Expansion and evolutionary patterns of cysteine-rich peptides in plants

BACKGROUND

Cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) are gaining recognition as regulators of cell-cell communication in plants.

RESULTS

We identified 9556 CRPs in 12 plant species and analysed their evolutionary patterns. In most angiosperm plants, whole genome duplication and segmental duplication are the major factors driving the expansion of CRP family member genes, especially signal peptides. About 30% of the CRP genes were found clustered on the chromosomes, except in maize (Zea mays). Considerable collinearities between CRP genes between or within species reveal several syntenic regions on the chromosomes. Different subfamilies display diverse evolutionary rates, suggesting that these subfamilies are subjected to different selective pressures. CRPs in different duplication models also show contrasting evolutionary rates, although the underlying mechanism is unclear because of the complexity of gene evolution. The 1281 positively selected genes identified are probably generated within a certain period of time. While most of these belonged to maize and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), new CRP functions would also be expected. Up-regulation of 10 CRPs was observed in self-pollinated pear pistils and pollen tubes under self S-RNase treatments in vitro. The expression divergence between different CRP gene duplication types suggests that different duplication mechanisms affected the fate of the duplicated CRPs.

CONCLUSION

Our analyses of the evolution of the CRP gene family provides a unique view of the evolution of this large gene family.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Maize Bioactive Peptides

Cancer is one of the main chronic degenerative diseases worldwide. In recent years, consumption of whole-grain cereals and their derivative food products has been associated with a reduced risk of various types of cancer. The main biomolecules in cereals include proteins, peptides, and amino acids, all of which are present in different quantities within the grain. Some of these peptides possess nutraceutical properties and exert biological effects that promote health and prevent cancer. In this review, we report the current status and advances in knowledge regarding the bioactive properties of maize peptides, such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, and anti-tumor activities. We also highlight the potential biological mechanisms through which maize bioactive peptides exert anti-cancer activity. Finally, we analyze and emphasize the potential applications of maize peptides.

PCP-B class pollen coat proteins are key regulators of the hydration checkpoint in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-stigma interactions

The establishment of pollen-pistil compatibility is strictly regulated by factors derived from both male and female reproductive structures. Highly diverse small cysteine-rich proteins (CRPs) have been found to play multiple roles in plant reproduction, including the earliest stages of the pollen-stigma interaction. Secreted CRPs found in the pollen coat of members of the Brassicaceae, the pollen coat proteins (PCPs), are emerging as important signalling molecules that regulate the pollen-stigma interaction. Using a combination of protein characterization, expression and phylogenetic analyses we identified a novel class of Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-borne CRPs, the PCP-Bs (for pollen coat protein B-class) that are related to embryo surrounding factor (ESF1) developmental regulators. Single and multiple PCP-B mutant lines were utilized in bioassays to assess effects on pollen hydration, adhesion and pollen tube growth. Our results revealed that pollen hydration is severely impaired when multiple PCP-Bs are lost from the pollen coat. The hydration defect also resulted in reduced pollen adhesion and delayed pollen tube growth in all mutants studied. These results demonstrate that AtPCP-Bs are key regulators of the hydration 'checkpoint' in establishment of pollen-stigma compatibility. In addition, we propose that interspecies diversity of PCP-Bs may contribute to reproductive barriers in the Brassicaceae.

Why cellular communication during plant reproduction is particularly mediated by CRP signalling

Secreted cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs) represent one of the main classes of signalling peptides in plants. Whereas post-translationally modified small non-CRP peptides (psNCRPs) are mostly involved in signalling events during vegetative development and interactions with the environment, CRPs are overrepresented in reproductive processes including pollen germination and growth, self-incompatibility, gamete activation and fusion as well as seed development. In this opinion paper we compare the involvement of both types of peptides in vegetative and reproductive phases of the plant lifecycle. Besides their conserved cysteine pattern defining structural features, CRPs exhibit hypervariable primary sequences and a rapid evolution rate. As a result, CRPs represent a pool of highly polymorphic signalling peptides involved in species-specific functions during reproduction and thus likely represent key players to trigger speciation in plants by supporting reproductive isolation. In contrast, precursers of psNCRPs are proteolytically processed into small functional domains with high sequence conservation and act in more general processes. We discuss parallels in downstream processes of CRP signalling in both reproduction and defence against pathogenic fungi and alien pollen tubes, with special emphasis on the role of ROS and ion channels. In conclusion we suggest that CRP signalling during reproduction in plants has evolved from ancient defence mechanisms.