Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones

Strigolactones are a newly identified group of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development and also act as communication signals in the rhizosphere. Beyond their well-known activity in stimulating parasitic weed germination, strigolactones function in regulating plant architecture, prom...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qian Zhou, Changbin Niu, Liang Feng, Meixiu Dong, Xiaoxu Li, Bo Kong, Changsheng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618437/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850118451859816448
author Qian Zhou
Changbin Niu
Liang Feng
Meixiu Dong
Xiaoxu Li
Xiaoxu Li
Bo Kong
Bo Kong
Changsheng Li
Changsheng Li
author_facet Qian Zhou
Changbin Niu
Liang Feng
Meixiu Dong
Xiaoxu Li
Xiaoxu Li
Bo Kong
Bo Kong
Changsheng Li
Changsheng Li
author_sort Qian Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Strigolactones are a newly identified group of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development and also act as communication signals in the rhizosphere. Beyond their well-known activity in stimulating parasitic weed germination, strigolactones function in regulating plant architecture, promoting symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and modulating responses to various environmental stresses. However, their low abundance, structural diversity, and instability have hindered comprehensive research and their practices. In this review, from the perspective of biological researcher, we summarize the powerful tools and strategies related to chemistry and chemical biology used in strigolactone area, covering analytical chemistry tools for isolation and structural elucidation, synthetic chemistry for structural elucidation and agricultural applications, chemical biology and biosynthetic strategies for functional characterization. Biosensors and probes used in monitoring strigolactone activity and signaling were also highlighted. Finally, we address current challenges and discuss future research perspectives, aiming to provoke more investigations on strigolactone biology and further boost their agricultural practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-e483feb26ffa4f05819bfa398749ca28
institution OA Journals
issn 1664-462X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Plant Science
spelling doaj-art-e483feb26ffa4f05819bfa398749ca282025-08-20T02:35:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16184371618437Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactonesQian Zhou0Changbin Niu1Liang Feng2Meixiu Dong3Xiaoxu Li4Xiaoxu Li5Bo Kong6Bo Kong7Changsheng Li8Changsheng Li9Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, ChinaHunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, ChinaHunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, ChinaHunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, ChinaBeijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, ChinaTobacco Chemistry Research Institute of Technology Center, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co., Ltd., Changsha, ChinaBeijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, ChinaTobacco Chemistry Research Institute of Technology Center, China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co., Ltd., Changsha, ChinaHunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Developmental Regulation, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, ChinaYuelushan Laboratory, Changsha, ChinaStrigolactones are a newly identified group of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development and also act as communication signals in the rhizosphere. Beyond their well-known activity in stimulating parasitic weed germination, strigolactones function in regulating plant architecture, promoting symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and modulating responses to various environmental stresses. However, their low abundance, structural diversity, and instability have hindered comprehensive research and their practices. In this review, from the perspective of biological researcher, we summarize the powerful tools and strategies related to chemistry and chemical biology used in strigolactone area, covering analytical chemistry tools for isolation and structural elucidation, synthetic chemistry for structural elucidation and agricultural applications, chemical biology and biosynthetic strategies for functional characterization. Biosensors and probes used in monitoring strigolactone activity and signaling were also highlighted. Finally, we address current challenges and discuss future research perspectives, aiming to provoke more investigations on strigolactone biology and further boost their agricultural practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618437/fullstrigolactonechemistrychemical biologybiosynthesisroot exudatesynthetic biology
spellingShingle Qian Zhou
Changbin Niu
Liang Feng
Meixiu Dong
Xiaoxu Li
Xiaoxu Li
Bo Kong
Bo Kong
Changsheng Li
Changsheng Li
Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
Frontiers in Plant Science
strigolactone
chemistry
chemical biology
biosynthesis
root exudate
synthetic biology
title Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
title_full Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
title_fullStr Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
title_full_unstemmed Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
title_short Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
title_sort chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones
topic strigolactone
chemistry
chemical biology
biosynthesis
root exudate
synthetic biology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1618437/full
work_keys_str_mv AT qianzhou chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT changbinniu chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT liangfeng chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT meixiudong chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT xiaoxuli chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT xiaoxuli chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT bokong chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT bokong chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT changshengli chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones
AT changshengli chemistryandchemicalbiologytoolscontributingtothediscoveryandfunctionalcharacterizationofstrigolactones