Evolution and Functions of Plant U-Box Proteins: From Protein Quality Control to Signaling

Posttranslational modifications add complexity and diversity to cellular proteomes. One of the most prevalent modifications across eukaryotes is ubiquitination, which is orchestrated by E3 ubiquitin ligases. U-box-containing E3 ligases have massively expanded in the plant kingdom and have diversified into plant U-box proteins (PUBs). PUBs likely originated from two or three ancestral forms, fusing with diverse functional subdomains that resulted in neofunctionalization. Their emergence and diversification may reflect adaptations to stress during plant evolution, reflecting changes in the needs of plant proteomes to maintain cellular homeostasis. Through their close association with protein kinases, they are physically linked to cell signaling hubs and activate feedback loops by dynamically pairing with E2-ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes to generate distinct ubiquitin polymers that themselves act as signals. Here, we complement current knowledgewith comparative genomics to gain a deeper understanding of PUB function, focusing on their evolution and structural adaptations of key U-box residues, as well as their various roles in plant cells.