Protein degrons and degradation: Exploring substrate recognition and pathway selection in plants

Proteome composition is dynamic and influenced by many internal and external cues, including developmental signals, light availability, or environmental stresses. Protein degradation, in synergy with protein biosynthesis, allows cells to respond to various stimuli and adapt by reshaping the proteome. Protein degradation mediates the final and irreversible disassembly of proteins, which is important for protein quality control and to eliminate misfolded or damaged proteins, as well as entire organelles. Consequently, it contributes to cell resilience by buffering against protein or organellar damage caused by stresses. Moreover, protein degradation plays important roles in cell signaling, as well as transcriptional and translational events. The intricate task of recognizing specific proteins for degradation is achieved by specialized systems that are tailored to the substrate's physicochemical properties and subcellular localization. These systems recognize diverse substrate cues collectively referred to as "degrons", which can assume a range of structural configurations. They are molecular surfaces recognized by E3 ligases of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, but can also be considered as general features recognized by other degradation systems, including autophagy or even organellar proteases. Here we provide an overview of the newest developments in the field, delving into the intricate processes of protein recognition and elucidating the pathways through which they are recruited for degradation.

Erasing marks: Functions of plant deubiquitylating enzymes in modulating the ubiquitin code

Plant cells need to respond to environmental stimuli and developmental signals accurately and promptly. Ubiquitylation is a reversible posttranslational modification that enables the adaptation of cellular proteostasis to internal or external factors. The different topologies of ubiquitin linkages serve as the structural basis for the ubiquitin code, which can be interpreted by ubiquitin-binding proteins or readers in specific processes. The ubiquitylation status of target proteins is regulated by ubiquitylating enzymes or writers, and deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) or erasers. DUBs can remove ubiquitin molecules from target proteins. Arabidopsis (A. thaliana) DUBs belong to seven protein families and exhibit a wide range of functions and play an important role in regulating selective protein degradation processes, including proteasomal-, endocytic-, and autophagic protein degradation. DUBs also shape the epigenetic landscape and modulate DNA damage repair processes. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on DUBs in plants, their cellular functions, and the regulatory mechanisms involved in the spatiotemporal regulation of plant DUBs.

Role of the dynamin-related protein 2 family and SH3P2 in clathrin-mediated endocytosis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is vital for the regulation of plant growth and development through controlling plasma membrane protein composition and cargo uptake. CME relies on the precise recruitment of regulators for vesicle maturation and release. Homologues of components of mammalian vesicle scission are strong candidates to be part of the scission machinery in plants, but the precise roles of these proteins in this process are not fully understood. Here, we characterised the roles of the plant dynamin-related protein 2 (DRP2) family (hereafter DRP2s) and SH3-domain containing protein 2 (SH3P2), the plant homologue to recruiters of dynamins, such as endophilin and amphiphysin, in CME by combining high-resolution imaging of endocytic events in vivo and characterisation of the purified proteins in vitro. Although DRP2s and SH3P2 arrive similarly late during CME and physically interact, genetic analysis of the sh3p123 triple mutant and complementation assays with non-SH3P2-interacting DRP2 variants suggest that SH3P2 does not directly recruit DRP2s to the site of endocytosis. These observations imply that, despite the presence of many well-conserved endocytic components, plants have acquired a distinct mechanism for CME.

Identification of promoter targets by Aureochrome 1a in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Aureochromes (AUREOs) are unique blue light receptors and transcription factors found only in stramenopile algae. While each of the four AUREOs identified in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum may have a specific function, PtAUREO1a has been shown to have a strong impact on overall gene regulation, when light changes from red to blue light conditions. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanism of PtAUREO1a is largely unexplored. To comprehend the overall process of gene regulation by PtAUREO1a, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, including pull-down assays, yeast one-hybrid experiments, and phenotypical characterization using recombinant PtAUREOs and diatom mutant lines expressing a modified PtAureo1a gene. We describe the distinct light absorption properties of four PtAUREOs and the formation of all combinations of their potential dimers. We demonstrate the capability of PtAUREO1a and 1b to activate the genes, diatom-specific cyclin 2, PtAureo1a, and PtAureo1c under both light and dark conditions. Using mutant lines expressing a modified PtAUREO1a protein with a considerably reduced light absorption, we found novel evidence that PtAUREO1a regulates the expression of PtLHCF15, which is essential for red light acclimation. Based on current knowledge, we present a working model of PtAUREO1a gene regulation properties.

Deubiquitylating enzymes in Arabidopsis thaliana endocytic protein degradation

The regulation of ubiquitylation is key for plant growth and development, in which the activities of ubiquitylating enzymes as well as deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) determine the stability or function of the modified proteins. In contrast with ubiquitylating enzymes, there are less numbers of DUBs. DUBs can be classified into seven protein families according to the amino acid sequence of their catalytic domains. The catalytic domains of animal and plant DUB families show high homology, whereas the regions outside of the catalytic site can vary a lot. By hydrolyzing the ubiquitin molecules from ubiquitylated proteins, DUBs control ubiquitin-dependent selective protein degradation pathways such as the proteasomal-, autophagic-, and endocytic degradation pathways. In the endocytic degradation pathway, DUBs can modulate the endocytic trafficking and thus the stability of plasma membrane proteins including receptors and transporters. To date, three DUB families were shown to control the endocytic degradation pathway namely associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM (AMSH) 3, ubiquitin-specific protease (UBP) 12 and UBP13, and ovarian tumor protease (OTU) 11 and OTU12. In this review we will summarize the activity, molecular functions, and target protein of these DUBs and how they contribute to the environmental response of plants.

Membrane-specific and calcium-dependent binding of the Arabidopsis C2 domain protein CaLB revealed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

C2 domain-containing proteins bind to cellular membranes and mediate diverse cellular processes. Although many of these membrane-interacting proteins have been identified, the molecular mechanisms of protein-membrane interactions and conformational dynamics are often poorly understood and remain to be investigated with appropriate methods. Here, we used attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and biomimetic membrane systems to analyse CalB, a yet uncharacterized Arabidopsis C2 domain protein. We studied membrane binding, lipid specificity and calcium dependency with solid-supported lipid membranes (SSLB) and small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUVs). Membranes were composed of pure POPC lipids or of POPC/PI(3)P lipid mixtures. A significantly increased protein binding affinity was observed with membranes containing 1% PI(3)P indicating the high binding specificity of CaLB for PI(3)P. Furthermore, membrane binding occurs in a calcium-dependent manner with a higher calcium concentration increasing the binding of CaLB to the POPC/PI(3)P membrane. Secondary structure analysis of IR-spectra reveals that only minor conformational changes take place upon binding with a slight increase in the helical and disordered regions of CaLB.

Arabidopsis thaliana B-GATA factors repress starch synthesis and gravitropic growth responses

Plants perceive the direction of gravity during skotomorphogenic growth, and of gravity and light during photomorphogenic growth. Gravity perception occurs through the sedimentation of starch granules in shoot endodermal and root columella cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the Arabidopsis thaliana GATA factors GNC (GATA, NITRATE-INDUCIBLE, CARBON METABOLISM-INVOLVED) and GNL/CGA1 (GNC-LIKE/CYTOKININ-RESPONSIVE GATA1) repress starch granule growth and amyloplast differentiation in endodermal cells. In our comprehensive study, we analysed gravitropic responses in the shoot, root and hypocotyl. We performed an RNA-seq analysis, used advanced microscopy techniques to examine starch granule size, number and morphology and quantified transitory starch degradation patterns. Using transmission electron microscopy, we examined amyloplast development. Our results indicate that the altered gravitropic responses in hypocotyls, shoots and roots of gnc gnl mutants and GNL overexpressors are due to the differential accumulation of starch granules observed in the GATA genotypes. At the whole-plant level, GNC and GNL play a more complex role in starch synthesis, degradation and starch granule initiation. Our findings suggest that the light-regulated GNC and GNL help balance phototropic and gravitropic growth responses after the transition from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis by repressing the growth of starch granules.

Measuring the DUB Activity of Arabidopsis Deubiquitylating Enzymes

Deubiquitylating enzymes, or DUBs, are important regulators of ubiquitin homeostasis and substrate stability, though the molecular mechanisms of most of the DUBs in plants are not yet understood. As different ubiquitin chain types are implicated in different biological pathways, it is important to analyze the enzyme characteristic for studying a DUB. Quantitative analysis of DUB activity is also important to determine enzyme kinetics and the influence of DUB binding proteins on the enzyme activity. Here we show methods to analyze DUB activity using immunodetection, Coomassie brilliant blue staining, and fluorescence measurement that can be useful for understanding the basic characteristic of DUBs.

Lipid-mediated activation of plasma membrane-localized deubiquitylating enzymes modulate endosomal trafficking

The abundance of plasma membrane-resident receptors and transporters has to be tightly regulated by ubiquitin-mediated endosomal degradation for the proper coordination of environmental stimuli and intracellular signaling. Arabidopsis OVARIAN TUMOR PROTEASE (OTU) 11 and OTU12 are plasma membrane-localized deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) that bind to phospholipids through a polybasic motif in the OTU domain. Here we show that the DUB activity of OTU11 and OTU12 towards K63-linked ubiquitin is stimulated by binding to lipid membranes containing anionic lipids. In addition, we show that the DUB activity of OTU11 against K6- and K11-linkages is also stimulated by anionic lipids, and that OTU11 and OTU12 can modulate the endosomal degradation of a model cargo and the auxin efflux transporter PIN2-GFP in vivo. Our results suggest that the catalytic activity of OTU11 and OTU12 is tightly connected to their ability to bind membranes and that OTU11 and OTU12 are involved in the fine-tuning of plasma membrane proteins in Arabidopsis.

Bacterial microcompartments for isethionate desulfonation in the taurine-degrading human-gut bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia

Background

Bilophila wadsworthia, a strictly anaerobic, sulfite-reducing bacterium and common member of the human gut microbiota, has been associated with diseases such as appendicitis and colitis. It is specialized on organosulfonate respiration for energy conservation, i.e., utilization of dietary and host-derived organosulfonates, such as taurine (2-aminoethansulfonate), as sulfite donors for sulfite respiration, producing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), an important intestinal metabolite that may have beneficial as well as detrimental effects on the colonic environment. Its taurine desulfonation pathway involves the glycyl radical enzyme (GRE) isethionate sulfite-lyase (IslAB), which cleaves isethionate (2-hydroxyethanesulfonate) into acetaldehyde and sulfite.

Results

We demonstrate that taurine metabolism in B. wadsworthia 3.1.6 involves bacterial microcompartments (BMCs). First, we confirmed taurine-inducible production of BMCs by proteomic, transcriptomic and ultra-thin sectioning and electron-microscopical analyses. Then, we isolated BMCs from taurine-grown cells by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and analyzed their composition by proteomics as well as by enzyme assays, which suggested that the GRE IslAB and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase are located inside of the BMCs. Finally, we are discussing the recycling of cofactors in the IslAB-BMCs and a potential shuttling of electrons across the BMC shell by a potential iron-sulfur (FeS) cluster-containing shell protein identified by sequence analysis.

Conclusions

We characterized a novel subclass of BMCs and broadened the spectrum of reactions known to take place enclosed in BMCs, which is of biotechnological interest. We also provided more details on the energy metabolism of the opportunistic pathobiont B. wadsworthia and on microbial H₂S production in the human gut.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-021-02386-w.

MLP-PG1, a major latex-like protein identified in Cucurbita pepo, confers resistance through the induction of pathogenesis-related genes

MAIN CONCLUSION

MLP-PG1, identified in Cucurbita pepo, plays a crucial role in resistance against fungal pathogens through the induction of pathogenesis-related genes.

ASTRACT

MLP-PG1, a major latex-like protein (MLP) from zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), was identified as a transporting factor for hydrophobic organic pollutants. MLPs are members of the Bet v 1 family, similar to pathogenesis-related class 10 proteins (PR-10s). However, the biological functions of MLPs remain unclear. Herein, we show that MLP-PG1 induces the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and indirectly promotes resistance against pathogens. The activity of the MLP-PG1 promoter in leaves of transgenic tobacco plants was significantly enhanced by inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. However, MLP-PG1 did not induce direct resistance through RNase activity. Therefore, we examined the possibility that MLP-PG1 is indirectly involved in resistance; indeed, we found that MLP-PG1 induced the expression of defense-related genes. Overexpression of MLP-PG1 highly upregulated PR-2 and PR-5 and decreased the area of lesions caused by Botrytis cinerea in the leaves of transgenic tobacco plants. Our results demonstrate that MLP-PG1 is involved in indirect resistance against plant diseases, especially caused by fungal pathogens, through the induction of PR genes. This study is the first report to show the induction of PR genes by the expression of MLP from the RNA sequencing analysis and the involvement of MLP-PG1 in the resistance.

ESCRT Is a Great Sealer: Non-Endosomal Function of the ESCRT Machinery in Membrane Repair and Autophagy

Components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRTs) were first identified in a genetic screen in budding yeast as factors interfering with vacuolar protein sorting. In the last three decades, intensive studies have revealed the subunit composition of ESCRT-0, ESCRT-I, ESCRT-II, ESCRT-III, their structure, the assembling mechanisms and their molecular and physiological functions. In plants, ESCRTs are essential for development, growth and stress responses. ESCRTs are best known for their function in endosomal trafficking, during which they are required for sorting ubiquitylated membrane proteins into intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) of multivesicular endosomes (MVEs). The formation of ILVs requires the function of ESCRT-III, which has been shown to mediate the membrane scission. Although the function of plant ESCRTs has been predominantly discussed in the context of endosomal trafficking, recent studies in other model organisms revealed a versatile role of ESCRTs in diverse cellular events with broad physiological implications. The non-endosomal functions of ESCRTs include cytokinesis, viral budding, autophagy, nuclear envelope reformation and membrane repair, although many of these have not yet been studied in plants. In this review, recent findings on non-endosomal ESCRT functions in plant, yeast and animals are highlighted and discussed.

Knowing When to Self-Eat - Fine-Tuning Autophagy Through ATG8 Iso-forms in Plants

Autophagy is a catabolic process that takes place under both normal and adverse conditions and is important for the degradation of various organelles and proteins that are no longer needed. Thus, it can be viewed as both a constitutive recycling machinery and an adaptation mechanism. Increase in the activity of autophagy can be caused by multiple biotic and abiotic stress factors. Though intensive research in the past decade has elucidated many molecular details of plant autophagy, the mechanisms of induction and regulation of the process remain understudied. Here, we discuss the role of ATG8 proteins in autophagic signaling and regulation with an emphasis on the significance of ATG8 diversification for adapting autophagy to the changing needs of plants.

Modified Enzymatic Assays for the Determination of Histamine in Fermented Foods

ABSTRACT

Histamine is a biogenic amine, produced in spoiled fish and some fermented products, which causes a foodborne disease similar to an allergic reaction. Because regulatory levels on histamine in food have been set by many countries or organizations, a quick and accurate analysis of histamine is of great interest. An enzymatic histamine determination method on the basis of a colorimetric assay has been used to detect histamine for raw and canned tuna due to its simplicity and rapidity. However, note that some compounds in fermented foods interfere with assay results. In this study, the pretreatments and conditions of the assay for fermented foods were evaluated. Lowering the reaction temperature from 37 to 23°C was considerably effective in reducing the interference. As a result, histamine in salami and sauerkraut (≥5 to 10 mg/kg) could be determined with a 25-fold dilution, as in the manufacturer's instructions. Histamine in soy sauce (≥10 to 20 mg/L) could also be determined with a 100-fold dilution. Removing fat and protein in cheese samples by using perchloric acid with a resultant 25-fold dilution and removing polyphenol with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone for red wine with a fivefold dilution were feasible; the limits of quantification were 5 mg/kg and 1 mg/L, respectively. Good recovery rates, precision repeatability, and correlations with a high-performance liquid chromatography method were confirmed. These protocols are expected to be applicable for histamine determination in various foods and useful for preventing histamine food poisoning.

HIGHLIGHTS

Detection of Phosphorylation on Immunoprecipitates from Total Protein Extracts of Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings

Phosphorylation is a versatile posttranslational modification that can regulate the localization, stability, and conformation of proteins; protein-protein interactions; and enzyme activities. Phosphorylation of plasma membrane proteins, for example, can serve as recognition signals for ubiquitin ligases and hence can trigger its endocytic degradation. Key determinants of protein phosphorylation are kinases and phosphatases that are spatiotemporally regulated to phosphorylate or dephosphorylate specific target proteins. To understand the dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of protein phosphorylation, it is essential to analyze the phosphorylation status of the proteins and identify phosphorylation sites as well as the modifying enzymes. In this chapter, we describe methods that can be used for the detection of phosphoproteins that are immunoprecipitated from Arabidopsis total extracts.

The AMSH3 ESCRT-III-Associated Deubiquitinase Is Essential for Plant Immunity

Plant "nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat" receptor proteins (NLRs) detect alterations in host targets of pathogen effectors and trigger immune responses. The Arabidopsis thaliana mutant pen1 syp122 displays autoimmunity, and a mutant screen identified the deubiquitinase "associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM3" (AMSH3) to be required for this phenotype. AMSH3 has previously been implicated in ESCRT-mediated vacuolar targeting. Pathology experiments show that AMSH3 activity is required for immunity mediated by the CC-NLRs, RPS2 and RPM1. Co-expressing the autoactive RPM1^D505V and the catalytically inactive ESCRT-III protein SKD1^E232Q in Nicotiana benthamiana supports the requirement of ESCRT-associated functions for this CC-NLR-activated immunity. Meanwhile, loss of ESCRT function in A. thaliana is lethal, and we find that AMSH3 knockout-triggered seedling lethality is "enhanced disease susceptibility 1" (EDS1) dependent. Future studies may reveal whether AMSH3 is monitored by a TIR-NLR immunity receptor.

Ubiquitin recognition in endocytic trafficking - with or without ESCRT-0

The ability to sense and adapt to the constantly changing environment is important for all organisms. Cell surface receptors and transporters are key for the fast response to extracellular stimuli and, thus, their abundance on the plasma membrane has to be strictly controlled. Heteromeric endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRTs) are responsible for mediating the post-translational degradation of endocytosed plasma membrane proteins in eukaryotes and are essential both in animals and plants. ESCRTs bind and sort ubiquitylated cargoes for vacuolar degradation. Although many components that comprise the multi-subunit ESCRT-0, ESCRT-I, ESCRT-II and ESCRT-III complexes are conserved in eukaryotes, plant and animal ESCRTs have diverged during the course of evolution. Homologues of ESCRT-0, which recognises ubiquitylated cargo, have emerged in metazoan and fungi but are not found in plants. Instead, the Arabidopsis genome encodes plant-specific ubiquitin adaptors and a greater number of target of Myb protein 1 (TOM1) homologues than in mammals. In this Review, we summarise and discuss recent findings on ubiquitin-binding proteins in Arabidopsis that could have equivalent functions to ESCRT-0. We further hypothesise that SH3 domain-containing proteins might serve as membrane curvature-sensing endophilin and amphiphysin homologues during plant endocytosis.

The Arabidopsis receptor kinase STRUBBELIG undergoes clathrin-dependent endocytosis

Signaling mediated by cell surface receptor kinases is central to the coordination of growth patterns during organogenesis. Receptor kinase signaling is in part controlled through endocytosis and subcellular distribution of the respective receptor kinase. For the majority of plant cell surface receptors, the underlying trafficking mechanisms are not characterized. In Arabidopsis, tissue morphogenesis requires the atypical receptor kinase STRUBBELIG (SUB). Here, we studied the endocytic mechanism of SUB. Our data revealed that a functional SUB-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion is ubiquitinated in vivo. We further showed that plasma membrane-bound SUB:EGFP becomes internalized in a clathrin-dependent fashion. We also found that SUB:EGFP associates with the trans-Golgi network and accumulates in multivesicular bodies and the vacuole. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that SUB:EGFP and clathrin are present within the same protein complex. Our genetic analysis showed that SUB and CLATHRIN HEAVY CHAIN (CHC) 2 regulate root hair patterning. By contrast, genetic reduction of CHC activity ameliorates the floral defects of sub mutants. Taken together, the data indicate that SUB undergoes clathrin-mediated endocytosis, that this process does not rely on stimulation of SUB signaling by an exogenous agent, and that SUB genetically interacts with clathrin-dependent pathways in a tissue-specific manner.

Transient Expression of ESCRT Components in Arabidopsis Root Cell Suspension Culture-Derived Protoplasts

Localization studies are important to understand the function of diverse proteins. The endosomal trafficking pathway is very complex, and a lot of proteins function in this pathway, primarily the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRTs). Some of the ESCRT-related proteins or mutant variants cannot be stably expressed in planta due to the toxicity of their expression. Therefore, a transient expression system is necessary to study their function. Transient expression in protoplasts from Arabidopsis root cell-derived culture serves as a fast and reliable method for the expression and cell biological and biochemical analyses of otherwise toxic constructs.

A Lotus japonicus E3 ligase interacts with the Nod Factor Receptor 5 and positively regulates nodulation

BACKGROUND

Post-translational modification of receptor proteins is involved in activation and de-activation of signalling systems in plants. Both ubiquitination and deubiquitination have been implicated in plant interactions with pathogens and symbionts.

RESULTS

Here we present LjPUB13, a PUB-ARMADILLO repeat E3 ligase that specifically ubiquitinates the kinase domain of the Nod Factor receptor NFR5 and has a direct role in nodule organogenesis events in Lotus japonicus. Phenotypic analyses of three LORE1 retroelement insertion plant lines revealed that pub13 plants display delayed and reduced nodulation capacity and retarded growth. LjPUB13 expression is spatially regulated during symbiosis with Mesorhizobium loti, with increased levels in young developing nodules.

CONCLUSION

LjPUB13 is an E3 ligase with a positive regulatory role during the initial stages of nodulation in L. japonicus.

Nonselective Chemical Inhibition of Sec7 Domain-Containing ARF GTPase Exchange Factors

Small GTP-binding proteins from the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family are important regulators of vesicle formation and cellular trafficking in all eukaryotes. ARF activation is accomplished by a protein family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that contain a conserved catalytic Sec7 domain. Here, we identified and characterized Secdin, a small-molecule inhibitor of Arabidopsis thaliana ARF-GEFs. Secdin application caused aberrant retention of plasma membrane (PM) proteins in late endosomal compartments, enhanced vacuolar degradation, impaired protein recycling, and delayed secretion and endocytosis. Combined treatments with Secdin and the known ARF-GEF inhibitor Brefeldin A (BFA) prevented the BFA-induced PM stabilization of the ARF-GEF GNOM, impaired its translocation from the Golgi to the trans-Golgi network/early endosomes, and led to the formation of hybrid endomembrane compartments reminiscent of those in ARF-GEF-deficient mutants. Drug affinity-responsive target stability assays revealed that Secdin, unlike BFA, targeted all examined Arabidopsis ARF-GEFs, but that the interaction was probably not mediated by the Sec7 domain because Secdin did not interfere with the Sec7 domain-mediated ARF activation. These results show that Secdin and BFA affect their protein targets through distinct mechanisms, in turn showing the usefulness of Secdin in studies in which ARF-GEF-dependent endomembrane transport cannot be manipulated with BFA.

Autophagy-related approaches for improving nutrient use efficiency and crop yield protection

Autophagy is a eukaryotic catabolic pathway essential for growth and development. In plants, it is activated in response to environmental cues or developmental stimuli. However, in contrast to other eukaryotic systems, we know relatively little regarding the molecular players involved in autophagy and the regulation of this complex pathway. In the framework of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) action TRANSAUTOPHAGY (2016-2020), we decided to review our current knowledge of autophagy responses in higher plants, with emphasis on knowledge gaps. We also assess here the potential of translating the acquired knowledge to improve crop plant growth and development in a context of growing social and environmental challenges for agriculture in the near future.

All roads lead to the vacuole-autophagic transport as part of the endomembrane trafficking network in plants

Plants regulate their development and response to the changing environment by sensing and interpreting environmental signals. Intracellular trafficking pathways including endocytic-, vacuolar-, and autophagic trafficking are important for the various aspects of responses in plants. Studies in the last decade have shown that the autophagic transport pathway uses common key components of endomembrane trafficking as well as specific regulators. A number of factors previously described for their function in endosomal trafficking have been discovered to be involved in the regulation of autophagy in plants. These include conserved endocytic machineries, such as the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT), subunits of the HOPS and exocyst complexes, SNAREs, and RAB GTPases as well as plant-specific proteins. Defects in these factors have been shown to cause impairment of autophagosome formation, transport, fusion, and degradation, suggesting crosstalk between autophagy and other intracellular trafficking processes. In this review, we focus mainly on possible functions of endosomal trafficking components in autophagy.

Preparation of Clathrin-Coated Vesicles From Arabidopsis thaliana Seedlings

Clathrin coated vesicles (CCVs) mediate endocytosis of plasma membrane proteins and deliver their content to the endosomes for either subsequent recycling to the plasma membrane or transport to the vacuole for degradation. CCVs assemble also at the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and is responsible for the transport of proteins to other membranes. Oligomerization of clathrin and recruitment of adaptor protein complexes promote the budding and the release of CCVs. However, many of the details during plant CCV formation are not completely elucidated. The analysis of isolated CCVs is therefore important to better understand the formation of plant CCVs, their cargos and the regulation of clathrin-mediated transport processes. In this article, we describe an optimized method to isolate CCVs from Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.

ESCRT-dependent degradation of ubiquitylated plasma membrane proteins in plants

To control the abundance of plasma membrane receptors and transporters is crucial for proper perception and response to extracellular signals from surrounding cells and the environment. Posttranslational modification of plasma membrane proteins, especially ubiquitin conjugation or ubiquitylation, is key for the determination of stability for many transmembrane proteins localized on the cell surface. The targeted degradation is ensured by a complex network of proteins among which the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) plays a central role. This review focuses on progresses made in recent years on the understanding of the function of the ESCRT machinery in the degradation of ubiquitylated plasma membrane proteins in plants.

Measuring the Enzyme Activity of Arabidopsis Deubiquitylating Enzymes

Deubiquitylating enzymes, or DUBs, are important regulators of ubiquitin homeostasis and substrate stability, though the molecular mechanisms of most of the DUBs in plants are not yet understood. As different ubiquitin chain types are implicated in different biological pathways, it is important to analyze the enzyme characteristic for studying a DUB. Quantitative analysis of DUB activity is also important to determine enzyme kinetics and the influence of DUB binding proteins on the enzyme activity. Here, we show methods to analyze DUB activity using immunodetection, Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining, and fluorescence measurement that can be useful for understanding the basic characteristic of DUBs.

The deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH1 is required for rhizobial infection and nodule organogenesis in Lotus japonicus

Legume-rhizobium symbiosis contributes large quantities of fixed nitrogen to both agricultural and natural ecosystems. This global impact and the selective interaction between rhizobia and legumes culminating in development of functional root nodules have prompted detailed studies of the underlying mechanisms. We performed a screen for aberrant nodulation phenotypes using the Lotus japonicus LORE1 insertion mutant collection. Here, we describe the identification of amsh1 mutants that only develop small nodule primordia and display stunted shoot growth, and show that the aberrant nodulation phenotype caused by LORE1 insertions in the Amsh1 gene may be separated from the shoot phenotype. In amsh1 mutants, rhizobia initially became entrapped in infection threads with thickened cells walls. Some rhizobia were released into plant cells much later than observed for the wild-type; however, no typical symbiosome structures were formed. Furthermore, cytokinin treatment only very weakly induced nodule organogenesis in amsh1 mutants, suggesting that AMSH1 function is required downstream of cytokinin signaling. Biochemical analysis showed that AMSH1 is an active deubiquitinating enzyme, and that AMSH1 specifically cleaves K63-linked ubiquitin chains. Post-translational ubiquitination and deubiquitination processes involving the AMSH1 deubiquitinating enzyme are thus involved in both infection and organogenesis in Lotus japonicus.

FYVE1 is essential for vacuole biogenesis and intracellular trafficking in Arabidopsis

The plant vacuole is a central organelle that is involved in various biological processes throughout the plant life cycle. Elucidating the mechanism of vacuole biogenesis and maintenance is thus the basis for our understanding of these processes. Proper formation of the vacuole has been shown to depend on the intracellular membrane trafficking pathway. Although several mutants with altered vacuole morphology have been characterized in the past, the molecular basis for plant vacuole biogenesis has yet to be fully elucidated. With the aim to identify key factors that are essential for vacuole biogenesis, we performed a forward genetics screen in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and isolated mutants with altered vacuole morphology. The vacuolar fusion defective1 (vfd1) mutant shows seedling lethality and defects in central vacuole formation. VFD1 encodes a Fab1, YOTB, Vac1, and EEA1 (FYVE) domain-containing protein, FYVE1, that has been implicated in intracellular trafficking. FYVE1 localizes on late endosomes and interacts with Src homology-3 domain-containing proteins. Mutants of FYVE1 are defective in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, vacuolar transport, and autophagy. Altogether, our results show that FYVE1 is essential for plant growth and development and place FYVE1 as a key regulator of intracellular trafficking and vacuole biogenesis.

Interplay between phosphorylation and SUMOylation events determines CESTA protein fate in brassinosteroid signalling

Brassinosteroids are steroid hormones that are essential for plant growth. Responses to these hormones are mediated by transcription factors of the BES1/BZR1 subfamily, and brassinosteroids activate these factors by impairing their inhibitory phosphorylation by GSK3/shaggy-like kinases. Here we show that brassinosteroids induce nuclear compartmentalization of CESTA (CES), a bHLH transcription factor that regulates brassinosteroid responses, and reveal that this process is regulated by CES SUMOylation. We demonstrate that CES contains an extended SUMOylation motif, and that SUMOylation of this motif is antagonized by phosphorylation to control CES subnuclear localization. Moreover, we provide evidence that phosphorylation regulates CES transcriptional activity and protein turnover by the proteasome. A coordinated modification model is proposed in which, in a brassinosteroid-deficient situation, CES is phosphorylated to activate target gene transcription and enable further posttranslational modification that controls CES protein stability.

Ex vivo processing for maturation of Arabidopsis KDEL-tailed cysteine endopeptidase 2 (AtCEP2) pro-enzyme and its storage in endoplasmic reticulum derived organelles

Ricinosomes are specialized ER-derived organelles that store the inactive pro-forms of KDEL-tailed cysteine endopeptidases (KDEL-CysEP) associated with programmed cell death (PCD). The Arabidopsis genome encodes three KDEL-CysEP (AtCEP1, AtCEP2, and AtCEP3) that are differentially expressed in vegetative and generative tissues undergoing PCD. These Arabidopsis proteases have not been characterized at a biochemical level, nor have they been localized intracellularly. In this study, we characterized AtCEP2. A 3xHA-mCherry-AtCEP2 gene fusion including pro-peptide and KDEL targeting sequences expressed under control of the endogenous promoter enabled us to isolate AtCEP2 "ex vivo". The purified protein was shown to be activated in a pH-dependent manner. After activation, however, protease activity was pH-independent. Analysis of substrate specificity showed that AtCEP2 accepts proline near the cleavage site, which is a rare feature specific for KDEL-CysEPs. mCherry-AtCEP2 was detected in the epidermal layers of leaves, hypocotyls and roots; in the root, it was predominantly found in the elongation zone and root cap. Co-localization with an ER membrane marker showed that mCherry-AtCEP2 was stored in two different types of ER-derived organelles: 10 μm long spindle shaped organelles as well as round vesicles with a diameter of approximately 1 μm. The long organelles appear to be ER bodies, which are found specifically in Brassicacae. The round vesicles strongly resemble the ricinosomes first described in castor bean. This study provides a first evidence for the existence of ricinosomes in Arabidopsis, and may open up new avenues of research in the field of PCD and developmental tissue remodeling.

Reduced phototropism in pks mutants may be due to altered auxin-regulated gene expression or reduced lateral auxin transport

Phototropism allows plants to orient their photosynthetic organs towards the light. In Arabidopsis, phototropins 1 and 2 sense directional blue light such that phot1 triggers phototropism in response to low fluence rates, while both phot1 and phot2 mediate this response under higher light conditions. Phototropism results from asymmetric growth in the hypocotyl elongation zone that depends on an auxin gradient across the embryonic stem. How phototropin activation leads to this growth response is still poorly understood. Members of the phytochrome kinase substrate (PKS) family may act early in this pathway, because PKS1, PKS2 and PKS4 are needed for a normal phototropic response and they associate with phot1 in vivo. Here we show that PKS proteins are needed both for phot1- and phot2-mediated phototropism. The phototropic response is conditioned by the developmental asymmetry of dicotyledonous seedlings, such that there is a faster growth reorientation when cotyledons face away from the light compared with seedlings whose cotyledons face the light. The molecular basis for this developmental effect on phototropism is unknown; here we show that PKS proteins play a role at the interface between development and phototropism. Moreover, we present evidence for a role of PKS genes in hypocotyl gravi-reorientation that is independent of photoreceptors. pks mutants have normal levels of auxin and normal polar auxin transport, however they show altered expression patterns of auxin marker genes. This situation suggests that PKS proteins are involved in auxin signaling and/or lateral auxin redistribution.

Endoplasmic reticulum KDEL-tailed cysteine endopeptidase 1 of Arabidopsis (AtCEP1) is involved in pathogen defense

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically determined process in all multicellular organisms. Plant PCD is effected by a unique group of papain-type cysteine endopeptidases (CysEP) with a C-terminal KDEL endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention signal (KDEL CysEP). KDEL CysEPs can be stored as pro-enzymes in ER-derived endomembrane compartments and are released as mature CysEPs in the final stages of organelle disintegration. KDEL CysEPs accept a wide variety of amino acids at the active site, including the glycosylated hydroxyprolines of the extensins that form the basic scaffold of the cell wall. In Arabidopsis, three KDEL CysEPs (AtCEP1, AtCEP2, and AtCEP3) are expressed. Cell- and tissue-specific activities of these three genes suggest that KDEL CysEPs participate in the abscission of flower organs and in the collapse of tissues in the final stage of PCD as well as in developmental tissue remodeling. We observed that AtCEP1 is expressed in response to biotic stress stimuli in the leaf. atcep1 knockout mutants showed enhanced susceptibility to powdery mildew caused by the biotrophic ascomycete Erysiphe cruciferarum. A translational fusion protein of AtCEP1 with a three-fold hemaglutinin-tag and the green fluorescent protein under control of the endogenous AtCEP1 promoter (PCEP1::pre-pro-3xHA-EGFP-AtCEP1-KDEL) rescued the pathogenesis phenotype demonstrating the function of AtCEP1 in restriction of powdery mildew. The spatiotemporal AtCEP1-reporter expression during fungal infection together with microscopic inspection of the interaction phenotype suggested a function of AtCEP1 in controlling late stages of compatible interaction including late epidermal cell death. Additionally, expression of stress response genes appeared to be deregulated in the interaction of atcep1 mutants and E. cruciferarum. Possible functions of AtCEP1 in restricting parasitic success of the obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungus are discussed.

Deubiquitylating enzymes and their emerging role in plant biology

Ubiquitylation is a reversible post-translational modification that is involved in various cellular pathways and that thereby regulates various aspects of plant biology. For a long time, functional studies of ubiquitylation have focused on the function of ubiquitylating enzymes, especially the E3 ligases, rather than deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) or ubiquitin isopeptidases, enzymes that hydrolyze ubiquitin chains. One reason may be the smaller number of DUBs in comparison to E3 ligases, implying the broader substrate specificities of DUBs and the difficulties to identify the direct targets. However, recent studies have revealed that DUBs also actively participate in controlling cellular events and thus play pivotal roles in plant development and growth. DUBs are also essential for processing ubiquitin precursors and are important for recycling ubiquitin molecules from target proteins prior to their degradation and thereby maintaining the free ubiquitin pool in the cell. Here, we will discuss the five different DUB families (USP/UBP, UCH, JAMM, OTU, and MJD) and their known biochemical and physiological roles in plants.

Analysis of global ubiquitylation and ubiquitin-binding domains involved in endosomal trafficking

Ubiquitylation is a reversible posttranslational modification that regulates various cellular pathways. Ubiquitylation of a plasma membrane protein was shown to serve as a signal for endocytosis of plasma membrane proteins in yeast and mammals as well as in plants. As more and more plant plasma membrane proteins are reported to be regulated through their ubiquitylation status, methods to analyze ubiquitylation and ubiquitin binding would be useful for the characterization of proteins involved in endocytosis of ubiquitylated cargo proteins.

Calmodulin-like protein AtCML3 mediates dimerization of peroxisomal processing protease AtDEG15 and contributes to normal peroxisome metabolism

Matrix enzymes are imported into peroxisomes and glyoxysomes, a subclass of peroxisomes involved in lipid mobilization. Two peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS), the C-terminal PTS1 and the N-terminal PTS2, mediate the translocation of proteins into the organelle. PTS2 processing upon import is conserved in higher eukaryotes, and in watermelon the glyoxysomal processing protease (GPP) was shown to catalyse PTS2 processing. GPP and its ortholog, the peroxisomal DEG protease from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtDEG15), belong to the Deg/HtrA family of ATP-independent serine proteases with Escherichia coli DegP as their prototype. GPP existes in monomeric and dimeric forms. Their equilibrium is shifted towards the monomer upon Ca(2+)-removal and towards the dimer upon Ca(2+)-addition, which is accompanied by a change in substrate specificity from a general protease (monomer) to the specific cleavage of the PTS2 (dimer). We describe the Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM) mediated dimerization of AtDEG15. Dimerization is mediated by the CaM-like protein AtCML3 as shown by yeast two and three hybrid analyses. The binding of AtCML3 occurs within the first 25 N-terminal amino acids of AtDEG15, a domain containing a predicted CaM-binding motif. Biochemical analysis of AtDEG15 deletion constructs in planta support the requirement of the CaM-binding domain for PTS2 processing. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the CaM-binding site is conserved in peroxisomal processing proteases of higher plants (dicots, monocots) but not present in orthologs of animals or cellular slime molds. Despite normal PTS2 processing activity, an atcml3 mutant exhibited reduced 2,4-DB sensitivity, a phenotype previously reported for the atdeg15 mutant, indicating similarly impaired peroxisome metabolism.

Co-immunoprecipitation-based identification of putative BAX INHIBITOR-1-interacting proteins involved in cell death regulation and plant-powdery mildew interactions

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident BAX INHIBITOR-1 (BI-1) protein is one of a few cell death suppressors known to be conserved in animals and plants. The function of BI-1 proteins in response to various biotic and abiotic stress factors is well established. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We conducted co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments to identify Arabidopsis thaliana BI-1-interacting proteins to obtain a potentially better understanding of how BI-1 functions during plant-pathogen interactions and as a suppressor of cell death. Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 95 proteins co-immunoprecipitated with green fluorescing protein (GFP)-tagged BI-1. Five selected candidate proteins, a RIBOPHORIN II (RPN2) family protein, VACUOLAR ATP SYNTHASE SUBUNIT A (VHA-A), cytochrome P450 83A1 (CYP83A1), H(+) -ATPASE 1 (AHA1) and PROHIBITIN 2 (PHB2), were further investigated with regard to their role in BI-1-associated processes. To this end, we analysed a set of Arabidopsis mutants in the interaction with the adapted powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe cruciferarum and on cell death-inducing treatments. Two independent rpn2 knock-down mutants tended to better support powdery mildew, and a phb2 mutant showed altered responses to cell death-inducing Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici (AAL) toxin treatment. Two independent cyp83a1 mutants showed a strong powdery mildew resistance phenotype and enhanced sensitivity to AAL toxin. Moreover, co-localization studies and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments suggested a direct interaction of BI-1 with CYP83A1 at the ER.

The deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH1 and the ESCRT-III subunit VPS2.1 are required for autophagic degradation in Arabidopsis

In eukaryotes, posttranslational modification by ubiquitin regulates the activity and stability of many proteins and thus influences a variety of developmental processes as well as environmental responses. Ubiquitination also plays a critical role in intracellular trafficking by serving as a signal for endocytosis. We have previously shown that the Arabidopsis thaliana associated molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM3 (AMSH3) is a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that interacts with endosomal complex required for transport-III (ESCRT-III) and is essential for intracellular transport and vacuole biogenesis. However, physiological functions of AMSH3 in the context of its ESCRT-III interaction are not well understood due to the severe seedling lethal phenotype of its null mutant. In this article, we show that Arabidopsis AMSH1, an AMSH3-related DUB, interacts with the ESCRT-III subunit vacuolar protein sorting2.1 (VPS2.1) and that impairment of both AMSH1 and VPS2.1 causes early senescence and hypersensitivity to artificial carbon starvation in the dark similar to previously reported autophagy mutants. Consistent with this, both mutants accumulate autophagosome markers and accumulate less autophagic bodies in the vacuole. Taken together, our results demonstrate that AMSH1 and the ESCRT-III-subunit VPS2.1 are important for autophagic degradation and autophagy-mediated physiological processes.

The Arabidopsis deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH3 interacts with ESCRT-III subunits and regulates their localization

Ubiquitination and deubiquitination regulate various cellular processes. We have recently shown that the deubiquitinating enzyme Associated Molecule with the SH3 domain of STAM3 (AMSH3) is involved in vacuole biogenesis and intracellular trafficking in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, little is known about the identity of its interaction partners and deubiquitination substrates. Here, we provide evidence that AMSH3 interacts with ESCRT-III subunits VPS2.1 and VPS24.1. The interaction of ESCRT-III subunits with AMSH3 is mediated by the MIM1 domain and depends on the MIT domain of AMSH3. We further show that AMSH3, VPS2.1, and VPS24.1 localize to class E compartments when ESCRT-III disassembly is inhibited by coexpression of inactive Suppressor of K+ transport Defect 1 (SKD1), an AAA-ATPase involved in the disassembly of ESCRT-III. We also provide evidence that AMSH3 and SKD1 compete for binding to VPS2.1. Furthermore, we show that the loss of AMSH3 enzymatic activity leads to the formation of cellular compartments that contain AMSH3, VPS2.1, and VPS24.1. Taken together, our study presents evidence that AMSH3 interacts with classical core ESCRT-III components and thereby provides a molecular framework for the function of AMSH3 in plants.

Gibberellin regulates PIN-FORMED abundance and is required for auxin transport-dependent growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants integrate different regulatory signals to control their growth and development. Although a number of physiological observations suggest that there is crosstalk between the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) and auxin, as well as with auxin transport, the molecular basis for this hormonal crosstalk remains largely unexplained. Here, we show that auxin transport is reduced in the inflorescences of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants deficient in GA biosynthesis and signaling. We further show that this reduced auxin transport correlates with a reduction in the abundance of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux facilitators in GA-deficient plants and that PIN protein levels recover to wild-type levels following GA treatment. We also demonstrate that the regulation of PIN protein levels cannot be explained by a transcriptional regulation of the PIN genes but that GA deficiency promotes, at least in the case of PIN2, the targeting of PIN proteins for vacuolar degradation. In genetic studies, we reveal that the reduced auxin transport of GA mutants correlates with an impairment in two PIN-dependent growth processes, namely, cotyledon differentiation and root gravitropic responses. Our study thus presents evidence for a role of GA in these growth responses and for a GA-dependent modulation of PIN turnover that may be causative for these differential growth responses.

MLN4924 is an efficient inhibitor of NEDD8 conjugation in plants

The conjugation of the ubiquitin-like modifier NEURAL PRECURSOR CELL-EXPRESSED DEVELOPMENTALLY DOWN-REGULATED PROTEIN8/RELATED TO UBIQUITIN1 (NEDD8/RUB1; neddylation) is best known as an important posttranslational modification of the cullin subunits of cullin-RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs). MLN4924 has recently been described as an inhibitor of NEDD8-ACTIVATING ENZYME1 (NAE1) in human. Here, we show that MLN4924 is also an effective and specific inhibitor of NAE1 enzymes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and other plant species. We found that MLN4924-treated wild-type seedlings have phenotypes that are highly similar to phenotypes of mutants with a partial defect in neddylation and that such neddylation-defective mutants are hypersensitive to MLN4924 treatment. We further found that MLN4924 efficiently blocks the neddylation of cullins in Arabidopsis and that MLN4924 thereby interferes with the degradation of CRL substrates and their downstream responses. MLN4924 treatments also induce characteristic phenotypes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Cardamine hirsuta, and Brachypodium distachyon. Interestingly, MLN4924 also blocks the neddylation of a number of other NEDD8-modified proteins. In summary, we show that MLN4924 is a versatile and specific neddylation inhibitor that will be a useful tool to examine the role of NEDD8- and CRL-dependent processes in a wide range of plant species.

Co-immunoprecipitation and protein blots

Knowledge about the identity of the interacting partners is important for the understanding of the function and the cellular activity of a given protein. Here we describe co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down as methods that are widely used for the identification and characterization of protein-protein interactions. These methods are well suited to find or confirm the interaction among multiple proteins, given the availability of a specific antibody for or a tagged version of the protein of interest.

The deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH3 is required for intracellular trafficking and vacuole biogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

Ubiquitination, deubiquitination, and the formation of specific ubiquitin chain topologies have been implicated in various cellular processes. Little is known, however, about the role of ubiquitin in the development of cellular organelles. Here, we identify and characterize the deubiquitinating enzyme AMSH3 from Arabidopsis thaliana. AMSH3 hydrolyzes K48- and K63-linked ubiquitin chains in vitro and accumulates both ubiquitin chain types in vivo. amsh3 mutants fail to form a central lytic vacuole, accumulate autophagosomes, and mis-sort vacuolar protein cargo to the intercellular space. Furthermore, AMSH3 is required for efficient endocytosis of the styryl dye FM4-64 and the auxin efflux facilitator PIN2. We thus present evidence for a role of deubiquitination in intracellular trafficking and vacuole biogenesis.

The COP9 signalosome and its role in plant development

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is an evolutionarily conserved multiprotein complex with a role in the regulation of cullin-RING type E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs). CSN exerts its function on E3 ligases by deconjugating the ubiquitin-related protein NEDD8 from the CRL cullin subunit. Thereby, CSN has an impact on multiple CRL-dependent processes. In recent years, advances have been made in understanding the structural organisation and biochemical function of CSN: Crystal structure analysis and mass spectrometry-assisted studies have come up with first models of the pair-wise and complex interactions of the 8 CSN subunits. Based on the analysis of mutant phenotypes, it can now be taken as an accepted fact that--at least in plants--the major biochemical function of CSN resides in its deneddylation activity, which is mediated by CSN subunit 5 (CSN5). Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that CSN function and deneddylation are required but not essential for CRL-mediated processes, and models for the role of neddylation and deneddylation in controlling CRL activity are emerging. Significant advances have also been made in identifying pathways that are growth restricting in the Arabidopsis csn mutants. Recently it has been shown that a G2 phase arrest, possibly due to genomic instability, restricts growth in Arabidopsis csn mutants. This review provides an update on recent advances in understanding CSN structure and function and summarises the current knowledge on its role in plant development and cell cycle progression.