Crucial Abiotic Stress Regulatory Network of NF-Y Transcription Factor in Plants

Abstract

Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y), composed of three subunits NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC, exists in most of the eukaryotes and is relatively conservative in evolution. As compared to animals and fungi, the number of NF-Y subunits has significantly expanded in higher plants. The NF-Y complex regulates the expression of target genes by directly binding the promoter CCAAT box or by physical interaction and mediating the binding of a transcriptional activator or inhibitor. NF-Y plays an important role at various stages of plant growth and development, especially in response to stress, which attracted many researchers to explore. Herein, we have reviewed the structural characteristics and mechanism of function of NF-Y subunits, summarized the latest research on NF-Y involved in the response to abiotic stresses, including drought, salt, nutrient and temperature, and elaborated the critical role of NF-Y in these different abiotic stresses. Based on the summary above, we have prospected the potential research on NF-Y in response to plant abiotic stresses and discussed the difficulties that may be faced in order to provide a reference for the in-depth analysis of the function of NF-Y transcription factors and an in-depth study of plant responses to abiotic stress.

Keywords: Nuclear Factor Y; abiotic stress; functional mechanism; transcriptional regulation.

Figure 1

NF-Y transcription factors respond to abiotic stress.

Figure 2

(A). A classic NF-Y trimeric complex binds to the CCAAT element. (B). NF-YB1 binds with NF-YC12 and bHLH144 in order to form a heterotrimer; the trimer complex protects NF-YB1 from the ubiquitin/26S proteasome-mediated degradation. NF-YB1 activates the expression of Wx to regulate the starch synthesis by directly binding to the G-box. (C). Poplar PdNF-YB21 responds to drought stress. (D). Poplar NF-YC9 responds to salt stress. (E). Wheat TaNF-YA-B1 responds to low phosphorus and low nitrogen.