Cytokinin signaling and transcriptional networks

Abstract

The cytokinin signaling pathway consists of a phosphorelay mechanism that is initiated by binding of cytokinin to histidine kinase receptors and culminates with the transcription of cytokinin-responsive genes in the nucleus. Type-B response regulators (ARR) encode transcription factors that act as major players in the transcriptional activation of cytokinin-responsive genes, among which are many transcription factors. In this review, we highlight the transcriptional networks regulated by cytokinin that have been identified and their roles in the regulation of a subset of the many developmental and physiological processes regulated by this plant hormone.