DREB Regulons in Abiotic-Stress-Responsive Gene Expression in Plants

摘要

Plant growth and productivity is affected by various abiotic stresses such as drought, high salinity, and low temperature. Expression of a variety of genes is induced by these stresses in various plants. In the signal transduction network from perception of stress signals to stress-responsive gene expression, various transcription factors and cw-acting elements in the stress-responsive gene expression function for plant adaptation to environmental stresses. The dehydration-responsive element (DRE)/C-repeat (CRT) cz5-acting element is involved in osmotic- and cold-stress-inducible gene expression. Transcription factors that bind to the DRE/CRT were isolated and named DREBl/CBF and DREB2. DREBl/CBF regulon is involved in cold-stress-responsive gene expression, whereas, DREB2 is involved in osmotic-stress-responsive gene expression. Recently, we highlight transcriptional regulation of gene expression in response to drought and cold stresses, with particular emphasis on the role of DREB regulon in stress-responsive gene expression.