Work

PLATZ transcription factors: Roles in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators in various signaling pathways, orchestrating a wide range of developmental and adaptive processes in plants. Several TF families have been identified in crop plants that critically modulate yield-related traits by influencing plant architecture and stress response pathways. Among these, PLant AT-rich sequence and Zinc-binding protein (PLATZ) TFs are a unique family of zinc-dependent DNA-binding proteins specific to photosynthetic eukaryotes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary conservation, structural features, and functional roles of PLATZ TFs across plant species, highlighting their crucial involvement in plant root, stem, leaf, flower, and seed development and salt, drought, waterlogging, cold, heavy metal, and disease stress adaptation. We also highlight their diverse regulatory roles, including direct binding to target gene promoters, interactions with other proteins, and modulation of chromatin structure to regulate gene expression. Finally, we outline future research directions aimed at uncovering the functions and regulatory mechanisms of PLATZ TFs and exploring their potential applications to enhance crop productivity and resilience under changing environmental conditions.

Source: Plant Stress

DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2025.101075

Authors: Shanshan Zeng, Leeza Tariq, Yan Bi, Mengmeng Guo, Hui Wang, Fengming Song

Institutions: Zhejiang University, Zhejiang A & F University

Language: English

Topic: Plant Molecular Biology Research

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,310