Ubiquitylation of ABA Receptors and Protein Phosphatase 2C Coreceptors to Modulate ABA Signaling and Stress Response

Abstract

Post-translational modifications play a fundamental role in regulating protein function and stability. In particular, protein ubiquitylation is a multifaceted modification involved in numerous aspects of plant biology. Landmark studies connected the ATP-dependent ubiquitylation of substrates to their degradation by the 26S proteasome; however, nonproteolytic functions of the ubiquitin (Ub) code are also crucial to regulate protein interactions, activity, and localization. Regarding proteolytic functions of Ub, Lys-48-linked branched chains are the most common chain type for proteasomal degradation, whereas promotion of endocytosis and vacuolar degradation is triggered through monoubiquitylation or Lys63-linked chains introduced in integral or peripheral plasma membrane proteins. Hormone signaling relies on regulated protein turnover, and specifically the half-life of ABA signaling components is regulated both through the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system and the endocytic/vacuolar degradation pathway. E3 Ub ligases have been reported that target different ABA signaling core components, i.e., ABA receptors, PP2Cs, SnRK2s, and ABFs/ABI5 transcription factors. In this review, we focused specifically on the ubiquitylation of ABA receptors and PP2C coreceptors, as well as other post-translational modifications of ABA receptors (nitration and phosphorylation) that result in their ubiquitination and degradation.