Post-translational modifications play indispensable roles in cold stress responses of plants

M. Zhao, Liang Chen, Suiwen Hou

Cold environments significantly influence plant growth, development, geographical distribution, and yield. A growing body of research has focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to cold stress, among which post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play a pivotal role by regulating protein stability, activity, and protein-protein interactions. In this review, we summarize regulatory mechanisms of several types of PTMs, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, acetylation, crotonylation, and S-acylation, in the cold stress signaling pathway. These dynamic modifications allow plants to mount precise and adaptive responses, effectively balance defense with developmental processes, and establish a molecular foundation for adaptation to cold environments. A comprehensive understanding of the cascading relationships and collaborative regulatory networks among PTMs is indispensable for deciphering the molecular logic of plant cold adaptation. Moreover, further exploration of the temporal and spatial dynamics of these modifications and their functional associations will continue to refine our mechanistic understanding of the regulatory networks governing plant cold tolerance.