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Production mechanisms, structural features and post-translational modifications of plant peptides

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Abstract

Accumulated evidence suggests that peptides play diverse roles in various aspects of plant growth and development. Therefore, many research groups have developed and utilized new methods for the identification of peptides in different organisms. Nevertheless, the number and diversity of identified peptides remain lower than expected. In addition, the number of identified peptides is underestimated because of their low endogenous concentrations and, consequently, technical difficulties with their isolation. Additionally, while some types of peptides undergo functional maturation via proteolytic processing or post-translational modifications, which are important for their biological activity, most of the enzymes involved in the maturation of peptides have not yet been identified. Together, these factors indicate that the investigation of peptides is in its beginning stages in plants, as in other organisms. This review summarizes the biosynthesis mechanisms, identification tools, post-translational modifications, and biological functions of plant peptides, and the importance of post-translational modifications in peptide activity.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (Plant Molecular Breeding Center no. PJ01327601), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. This work was also supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (Plant Molecular Breeding Center no. PJ01330802), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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  1. Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Gwanakro 200, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-921, Korea

    Kyu Ho Lee, Dae Hwan Kwon & Hak Soo Seo

  2. School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Korea

    Jong Tae Song

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HSS designed the manuscript. KHL, DHK and HSS wrote the manuscript. KHL, DHK, JTS and HSS evaluated the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hak Soo Seo.

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Lee, K.H., Kwon, D.H., Song, J.T. et al. Production mechanisms, structural features and post-translational modifications of plant peptides. J. Plant Biol. 63, 259–265 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-020-09255-5

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