Structure, Function and Networks of Transcription Factors Involved in Abiotic Stress Responses

Abstract

Transcription factors (TFs) are master regulators of abiotic stress responses in plants. This review focuses on TFs from seven major TF families, known to play functional roles in response to abiotic stresses, including drought, high salinity, high osmolarity, temperature extremes and the phytohormone ABA. Although ectopic expression of several TFs has improved abiotic stress tolerance in plants, fine-tuning of TF expression and protein levels remains a challenge to avoid crop yield loss. To further our understanding of TFs in abiotic stress responses, emerging gene regulatory networks based on TFs and their direct targets genes are presented. These revealed components shared between ABA-dependent and independent signaling as well as abiotic and biotic stress signaling. Protein structure analysis suggested that TFs hubs of large interactomes have extended regions with protein intrinsic disorder (ID), referring to their lack of fixed tertiary structures. ID is now an emerging topic in plant science. Furthermore, the importance of the ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation systems and modification by sumoylation is also apparent from the interactomes. Therefore; TF interaction partners such as E3 ubiquitin ligases and TF regions with ID represent future targets for engineering improved abiotic stress tolerance in crops.

Selection for Improved Energy Use Efficiency and Drought Tolerance in Canola Results in Distinct Transcriptome and Epigenome Changes

“…purdue.edu; Supplemental Table S14; Marshall et al, 2012;Kissoudis et al, 2014). The TF classification shows an overrepresentation of primarily the APETALA2-ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEIN (AP2-EREBP) and WRKY families (Supplemental Table S15; Lindemose et al, 2013).…”

Isolation and Characterization of Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper III Protein 1 Gene in Poplar

“…TFs play significant roles in the response and adaptation of plant to various types of abiotic stress. Recently, fine-tuning of TF expression has shown to increase plant biomass and abiotic stress tolerance in a number of plant species (Jeong et al 2012;Lindemose et al 2013).…”

Isolation and Characterization of a Basic Leucine Zipper Gene in Poplar (Populus alba × P. glandulosa)

“…최근 유전체학 기술의 발전을 바탕으로 식물의 환경 스트레스 내성을 조절하는 유전자에 대한 연구가 많이 이루어지고 있다 (Ballen-Taborda et al, 2013;Gong et al, 2010;Luo et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2013). 특히 유전자의 전 사조절 부위에 특이적으로 결합하여 그 유전자의 전사를 활성화시키거나 억제시키는 단백질인 전사인자에 대한 연 구가 활발하다 (Jaradat et al, 2013;Riano-Pachon et al, 2007;Xu et al, 2013 (Jeong et al, 2012;Lindemose et al, 2013).…”