Abstract: Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) play important roles in regulating a wide range of processes, such as signal transduction, transcription, cell cycle progression, circadian rhythm, and development, via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The COP9 signalosome(CSN) is a highly conserved multi-subunit protein complex that controls ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation in eukaryotes. Unlike higher eukaryotes, fungi can survive without any CSN subunit, making fungi become perfect materials for the study of CSN in phyletic evolution, structural composition and biological functions. This review provides recent progress of subunit composition, biological functions and research prospects of CSN in fungi for understanding the function of CSN in fungi and other eukaryotes.

Key words: COP9 signalosome(CSN), cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs), fungi