Emerging roles of inositol pyrophosphates in plants: from environmental stress acclimation to hormonal responses and terrestrialization

Summary

Diphosphate‐containing inositol phosphates, also known as inositol pyrophosphates (PP‐InsPs), are energy‐rich signaling molecules that orchestrate an ever‐expanding repertoire of cellular processes in eukaryotes. Recent advances in analytical methodologies have been instrumental in detecting these messengers in plant extracts and characterizing the enzymology underlying PP‐InsP metabolism in plants. Collectively, these developments have been critical to establishing PP‐InsPs as emerging cellular messengers that control a broad spectrum of physiological processes, including immunity, nutrient homeostasis, growth, and development in plants. In this Tansley insight, we synthesize current knowledge on the molecular basis of PP‐InsP metabolism and their physiological functions, and outline potential future research directions. We further discuss the putative role of PP‐InsPs in plant terrestrialization, a pivotal evolutionary transition that fundamentally reshaped Earth's biosphere approximately half a billion years ago.