APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors: mediators of stress responses and developmental programs

• Published in: New Phytologist 2013-08, Vol.199 (3), p.639-649
• Main Authors: Licausi, Francesco, Ohme‐Takagi, Masaru, Perata, Pierdomenico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; AP2; breeding; crops; development; DNA; ethylene‐responsive factors; Gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes; genetic engineering; mechanism of action; metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Plant cells; Plant Development - genetics; Plant Proteins - chemistry; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants; regulation of transcription; Regulator genes; regulatory proteins; Repression; Research reviews; Rice; Secondary Metabolism - genetics; stress response; Stress, Physiological - genetics; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - chemistry; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcriptional regulatory elements
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12291

Transcription factors belonging to the APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) family are conservatively widespread in the plant kingdom. These regulatory proteins are involved in the control of primary and secondary metabolism, growth and developmental programs, as well as responses to environmental stimuli. Due to their plasticity and to the specificity of individual members of this family, AP2/ERF transcription factors represent valuable targets for genetic engineering and breeding of crops. In this review, we integrate the evidence collected from functional and structural studies to describe their different mechanisms of action and the regulatory pathways that affect their activity.