The Roles of BLH Transcription Factors in Plant Development and Environmental Response

Abstract

Despite recent advancements in plant molecular biology and biotechnology, providing enough, and safe, food for an increasing world population remains a challenge. The research into plant development and environmental adaptability has attracted more and more attention from various countries. The transcription of some genes, regulated by transcript factors (TFs), and their response to biological and abiotic stresses, are activated or inhibited during plant development; examples include, rooting, flowering, fruit ripening, drought, flooding, high temperature, pathogen infection, etc. Therefore, the screening and characterization of transcription factors have increasingly become a hot topic in the field of plant research. BLH/BELL (BEL1-like homeodomain) transcription factors belong to a subfamily of the TALE (three-amino-acid-loop-extension) superfamily and its members are involved in the regulation of many vital biological processes, during plant development and environmental response. This review focuses on the advances in our understanding of the function of BLH/BELL TFs in different plants and their involvement in the development of meristems, flower, fruit, plant morphogenesis, plant cell wall structure, the response to the environment, including light and plant resistance to stress, biosynthesis and signaling of ABA (Abscisic acid), IAA (Indoleacetic acid), GA (Gibberellic Acid) and JA (Jasmonic Acid). We discuss the theoretical basis and potential regulatory models for BLH/BELL TFs’ action and provide a comprehensive view of their multiple roles in modulating different aspects of plant development and response to environmental stress and phytohormones. We also present the value of BLHs in the molecular breeding of improved crop varieties and the future research direction of the BLH gene family.

Genome-wide identification of three-amino-acid-loop-extension gene family and their expression profile under hormone and abiotic stress treatments during stem development of Prunus mume

“…Populus alba × P. glandulosa KNOX subfamily member PagKNAT2/6b can mediate drought response by down-regulating PagGA20ox1 gene of GA pathway (Song et al, 2021). Similarly, the expression of TALE genes is not only regulated by hormones, but also affected by abiotic stress (Tsuda and Hake, 2015;Niu and Fu, 2022). The promoters of TALE gene family members in soybean contained cis-elements that responded to various stresses, and the expression level of GmTALE gene could change in response to salt stress and drought stress (Wang et al, 2021).…”

“…Previous studies have found that the TALE gene family is involved in plant hormone regulatory pathways (Tsuda and Hake, 2015;Niu and Fu, 2022). The exogenous hormone application showed that the expression of KNOX gene family members of Caucasian clover could respond to the changes of 6-BA, IAA, and KT signals (Zhang et al, 2022b).…”

Metabolome and transcriptome integration reveals insights into the process of delayed petal abscission in rose by STS

“…Transcription factors play an important role in plant development and stress response ( Niu and Fu, 2022 ). In this study, the DEGs affected by STS in the AZ of rose petals included a large number of TFs.…”

<i>In Silico</i> Analysis of <i>Phalaenopsis Orchid Homeobox1</i> (<i>POH1</i>) Functional Gene for Shoot Development in <i>Phalaenopsis</i> Orchid

“…The interaction between POX and MEINOX is hydrophobic (Ezura et al 2022). The interaction of them affects phytohormone regulation that is related to plant development (Niu & Fu 2022). The heterodimer modulates phytohormone by activating cytokinin and repressing gibberellin (Tadege 2013;Testone et al 2015;Marsch-Martínez & de Folter 2016), which correlates to shoot development (Wybouw & De Rybel 2019;Arro et al 2019).…”