Protein SUMOylation: Current updates and insights to elucidate potential roles of SUMO in plants

Abstract

Post-translational modification is one of the main reasons behind various cellular signaling events. These modifications alter the target protein's function instantly and add additional complexity by modifying proteins at cellular or sub-cellular location. The ubiquitin-like modifier system is very much conserved in eukaryotic organisms. One of such modifiers, i.e., small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) is present in plants whose conjugation with the intracellular proteins plays a vital role in various processes. SUMOylation is one of the dynamic mechanisms employed by plants under normal condition as well as in response to various environmental stresses like heat, drought, cold, phosphate, and biotic stress. It has a key role in regulating plant growth and development and plant defense against pathogens. A large number of protein isoforms have been identified that help in SUMOylation and de-SUMOylation reactions and play vital roles in post-translation modifications. This review is aimed at shedding light on the SUMO conjugation machinery, its isoforms, and their putative roles in cellular growth, developmental processes, and different environmental stress conditions in plants. This work could also be used to understand the stress tolerance mechanism and further draft resistant mechanisms through manipulations of SUMOylation. � 2023 SAAB