Proteolysis in Plants

Proteolysis is an essential process for many aspects of plant growth, development and stress responses, regulating protein turnover and quality control across cellular compartments. In addition to the well-established role of proteolysis in governing protein abundance, limited proteolysis, also known as protein processing, results in the maturation of enzymes, thereby affecting their activity, subcellular localization and function. In comparison with animals, plant genomes encode a significantly larger number of components related to proteolytic pathways, including proteases, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy-related pathways, organelle-specific degradation mechanisms, and diverse post-translational modifications. Collectively, these systems are responsible for cellular housekeeping and plant adaptation to internal cues and environmental challenges by reshaping their proteome.

The objective of this collection is to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research on the molecular mechanisms, regulatory networks and roles of proteolysis in plants under both physiological and stress conditions. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers that contribute to our understanding of proteolysis as a fundamental and multifaceted regulator of plant life.