植物乙烯响应因子(ERF)的结构、功能及表达调控研究进展

A review of the structure, function and expression regulation of ethylene response factors(ERF) in plant

乙烯响应因子(ERF)是植物中AP2/ERF转录因子超家族中的一部分,其结构特征为含有1个AP2结构域,在AP2域外还含有功能各异的基序。ERF在胁迫下通常正向调控植物的抗性,但也会因为一些原因负调控植物的抗性。ERF通过调节果实的色素变化及软化等调控果实成熟过程,通过调控衰老和脱落进程以控制花叶的寿命。ERF受信号分子调控启动转录,之后受其他机制调控完成表达。ERF可以通过调控信号分子对下游基因进行大范围的调控。多种ERF与蛋白质之间互作的机制丰富了ERF调控下游基因的方式。本研究综述了ERF的结构特征、生物学功能及表达调控机制。

As part of the AP2/ERF superfamily, ethylene response factors(ERF) enjoys a structure featured with an AP2 domain and conserved motifs with different functions outside the AP2 domain. With previous reseaches, ERF positively regulates plant resistance under stress, but it can also negatively regulate plant resistance for certain reasons. ERF regulates fruit ripening by regulating the changes of pigment and softening and controls the longevity of flowers and leaves by regulating the process of senescence and abscission. ERF is regulated by signal molecules to start transcription, and then regulated by other mechanisms to complete the expression. ERF can achieve a wide-range regulation of the downstream genes by regulating signal molecules.The interaction between ERF and protein enriches the way in which ERF regulates downstream genes. And this study, based on what has been previously researched, is aimed to conduct a review of the structural characteristics, biological functions and expression regulation mechanism of ERF so as to provide a reference for future studies on ERF.