Plant peptide hormones with bioactive defence properties active at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations

Overview

This research focuses on plant peptide hormones that exhibit beneficial biological activities, including defence responses, at remarkably low concentrations in the picomolar to nanomolar range. The ultra-low effective concentrations significantly reduce the cost of deployment compared to conventional agrochemical approaches. Within a single hormone family, three distinct classes of activity have been identified based on amino acid sequence divergence, suggesting a versatile platform for targeted biological applications.

The central hypothesis proposes that these compounds act through specific peptide receptors, enabling precise biological signalling. A key innovation is the exploration of antagonist design alongside traditional agonists. To date, only agonists mirroring natural compounds have been synthesised; developing antagonists may unlock additional applications, particularly in modulating or blocking specific plant defence pathways.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• Three distinct activity classes within a single hormone family, differentiated by amino acid sequence divergence
• Bioactivity at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations, enabling cost-effective applications
• Straightforward synthesis using standard automated peptide synthesizers
• Compatible with post-translational modifications (PTMs), which influence activity profiles
• Receptor-targeting mechanism enabling specific biological responses
• Potential for both agonist and antagonist design to expand functional applications

Technology readiness level

The research is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Synthesis protocols using standard automated synthesizers have been established, and three activity classes have been identified. Future validation will focus on confirming receptor targeting, characterising antagonist behaviour, and understanding how post-translational modifications affect activity. Further work is needed to optimise lead compounds and validate efficacy in applied settings before commercial readiness can be achieved.