Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. Furthermore, HSFs regulate the expression of a series of genes related to various abiotic stress adaptations. HSFs usually form homotrimers to activate their transcriptional activity and function. Here, we review the basic structure, subcellular localization, transcriptional regulation, functional diversity of HSFs, and their roles in plant adaptation to abiotic stresses, such as extreme temperature, salinity, drought, strong light and oxidative stress, etc. HSFs are high-quality candidate genes for improving the resistance of higher plants to multiple stresses. Studies of HSFs have important application value. In the future, using HSFs to improve the resistance of various crops through genetic engineering would be prospects of development.
热激转录因子(HSFs)参与了植物生长发育的调控以及多种非生物胁迫适应基因的表达调控。HSFs通常形成同源三聚体,激活转录活性从而发挥功能。本文综述了热激转录因子的基本结构、亚细胞定位、转录调控、功能多样性及其在植物适应极端温度、盐害、干旱、强光和氧化胁迫等非生物胁迫过程中的作用。HSFs是提高高等植物抗多重胁迫的优质候选基因,对其深入研究具有重要的应用价值。未来,通过生物基因工程等手段利用HSFs提高各类作物抗性具有广阔的发展前景。.
Keywords: abiotic stress adaptation; functional diversity; heat shock protein; heat shock transcription factor.