WRKY转录因子调控植物逆境胁迫响应的作用机制

Functional mechanisms of WRKY transcription factors in regulating plant response to abiotic stresses

摘要:

WRKYs是植物中特有的一类转录因子(transcription factor, TF)家族，属于典型的多功能调节因子，可参与调控多种信号途径。该类转录因子的显著特征是含有约由60个高度保守的氨基酸构成的WRKY结构域，通常还具有Cys2His2或Cys2His-Cys型锌指结构。WRKYs可与下游靶标基因启动子区域的W-box序列[(T)(T) TGAC (C/T)]相结合，或通过与靶标蛋白相互作用来激活或抑制靶基因的转录，整合脱落酸(abscisic acid, ABA)、活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)等信号通路诱导胁迫相关基因表达，从而调控逆境胁迫应答。本文综述了WRKYs的结构和分类、调控方式及其参与干旱、盐等逆境胁迫响应的分子机制等方面的研究成果，并对其未来研究方向进行展望，以期为农作物抗逆性遗传改良提供理论支持。

Abstract:

WRKYs is a unique family of transcription factors (TFs) in plants, and belongs to the typical multifunctional regulator. It is involved in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. This type of transcription factor is characterized to contain about 60 highly conservative amino acids as the WRKY domain, and usually also has the Cys2His2 or Cys2His-Cys zinc finger structure. WRKYs can directly bind to the W-box sequence ((T)(T) TGAC (C/T)) in the promoter region of the downstream target gene, and activate or inhibit the transcription of the target genes by interacting with the target protein. They may up-regulate the expression of stress-related genes through integrating signal pathways mediated by abscisic acid (ABA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus playing a vital role in regulating plant response to abiotic stresses. This review summarizes the advances in research on the structure and classification, regulatory approach of WRKYs, and the molecular mechanisms of WRKYs involved in response to drought and salt stresses, and prospects future research directions, with the aim to provide a theoretical support for the genetic improvement of crop in response to abiotic stresses.