抗逆相关AP2/EREBP转录因子研究进展

Research Progress of AP2/EREBP Transcription Factors in Stress Tolerance

干旱、低温、土地盐碱化等非生物胁迫是影响植物生长发育以及作物产量的重要因素。近年来大量研究表明,多种转录因子参与调控植物对各种生物及非生物胁迫的应答与防御反应,与此同时人们对其作用机理的探索也日渐深入。AP2/ERF转录因子家族是植物所特有的一类转录因子,在拟南芥中该家族至少有146个成员;而在水稻中该基因家族多达181个,是已知水稻转录因子基因中最大的家族。这些编码含有一个保守APETALA(AP2)结构域的蛋白质可能在植物多个发育过程及应答外界环境信号过程中发挥重要功能。综述了AP2/EREBP类转录因子的结构特征及其功能特性,并重点讨论了它们在植物抗逆中的调控作用及其在植物抗逆性分子遗传改良上的意义。

Plant growth,development and crop yield are severely influenced by numerous abiotic stresses,such as drought,cold,and high salinity.There are many reports suggested that plant AP2/EREBP family transcription factors play important functions in a series of complex response and resistance during the long term interaction with these biotic and abiotic stresses.The AP2/EREBP transcription factors are known to be unique in plants.In Arabidopsis family,there are at least 146 components,and the gene family in rice consists as many as 181,which is known as the largest transcription factor family in rice.The AP2/EREBP proteins may play important roles in plant development and defense response to external environmental stresses in plants.In this review,we summarized current research reference of AP2/EREBP transcription factors in structural and functional characters with emphasis on regulation and mechanisms in stress tolerance.The practical value of AP2/EREBP transcription factors in crop improvement engineering was also discussed.