International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Aug 2023)

Transcriptional Regulators of Plant Adaptation to Heat Stress

  • Xuejing Wang,
  • Nicholas Wui Kiat Tan,
  • Fong Yi Chung,
  • Nobutoshi Yamaguchi,
  • Eng-Seng Gan,
  • Toshiro Ito

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713297
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 17
p. 13297

Abstract

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Heat stress (HS) is becoming an increasingly large problem for food security as global warming progresses. As sessile species, plants have evolved different mechanisms to cope with the disruption of cellular homeostasis, which can impede plant growth and development. Here, we summarize the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation mediated by transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and regulatory RNAs in response to HS. Additionally, cellular activities for adaptation to HS are discussed, including maintenance of protein homeostasis through protein quality control machinery, and autophagy, as well as the regulation of ROS homeostasis via a ROS-scavenging system. Plant cells harmoniously regulate their activities to adapt to unfavorable environments. Lastly, we will discuss perspectives on future studies for improving urban agriculture by increasing crop resilience to HS.

Keywords