Protein post-translational modification in plants: regulation and beyond

Post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins is a crucial regulatory mechanism in plant cells, enabling rapid and purposeful regulation of their functions. Modified proteins play various roles in signaling pathways, including plant growth and development, plant metabolism, and the response to adversity stress. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of studies focusing on plant PTM maps and functional analysis. Here we aim to review the PTM types in plants, especially in horticultural plants and tropical crops, the interactions between and among PTMs, and more importantly, the underlying pathways and functions. Additionally, the potential application of PTMs in breeding is briefly discussed. This paper focuses on plant PTMs and provides a foundation for further investigation into the functions and regulatory mechanisms of PTMs in plant proteins as well as for crop improvement.