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

Abstract

Summary 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.

The Hevea brasiliensis AP2/ERF superfamily: from ethylene signalling to latex harvesting and physiological disease response

“…Yet, previous research works in different plant species has demonstrated that the AP2/ERF genes can be regulated at the posttranscriptional level, including the regulation by alternative splicing, control of protein stability, acetylation and nitrosylation (Licausi et al, 2013a). A strong accumulation of transcripts was observed for HbERF-I, HbERF-VII, HbERF-VIII and HbERF-IX members under harvesting stress and tapping panel dryness in bark and latex tissues (Putranto et al, 2015a;2015b).…”

The Hevea brasiliensis AP2/ERF superfamily: from ethylene signalling to latex harvesting and physiological disease response

“…The ERF-IX group probably contains the transcription factors whose involvement in the response to pathogens has been most extensively studied (Licausi et al, 2013a;Zarei et al, 2011;Moffat et al, 2012). Members of this group were characterized by a protein motif of activator-type EDLL in the C-terminal (Tiwari et al, 2012).…”

“…Members of the AP2/ERF superfamily encode transcription factors involved in the regulation of biological processes, including floral and ovum development, responses to phytohormones, and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress (Mizoi et al, 2012;Licausi et al, 2013a, Li et al, 2012Xu et al, 2011). These transcription factors were characterized by a conserved DNA-binding AP2 domain of about 60 amino acids (Ohme-Takagi & Shinshi, 1995).…”

Fast Retrograde Signaling in Response to High Light Involves Metabolite Export, MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE6, and AP2/ERF Transcription Factors in Arabidopsis

“…One of the biggest TF families containing 146 members is the APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTORs (AP2/ERFs) (Riechmann and Meyerowitz, 1998;Licausi et al, 2013). Besides their role in developmental processes like flower organ development (Jofuku et al, 1994), they strongly respond to various abiotic stressors and are involved in stress acclimation (Dietz et al, 2010;Lata and Prasad, 2011).…”