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Variability of plant heat shock factors: regulation, interactions and functions.
  • Norbert Andrási,
  • Aladár Pettkó-Szandtner,
  • Laszlo Szabados
Norbert Andrási
Biological Research Centre

Corresponding Author:andrasi.norbert@brc.hu

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Aladár Pettkó-Szandtner
Biological Research Centre
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Laszlo Szabados
Biological Research Centre
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Abstract

In plants Heat Shock Factors (HSFs) are encoded by large gene families and are primary regulators of responses not only to high temperatures but also to a number of other abiotic stresses and pathogen threats. Here we provide an overview of the diverse world of the plant HSFs through analysis of their functional versatility, regulation and interactions. HSFs can regulate tolerance to a number of extreme conditions including high or low temperatures, drought, hypoxic conditions, soil salinity, toxic minerals, strong irradiation or pathogen defenses. Variability is reflected in expression control with considerable differences in transcript profiles of individual HSF genes. Moreover, alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications provides further variability. HSFs are involved in complex web of protein-protein interactions which include formation of homomeric and heteromeric HSF trimers, and complexes with a number of other regulatory proteins including transcription regulators, chromatin-associated proteins or heat shock proteins (HSPs). Interactions of the Arabidopsis HSFA4A with proteins which control transcription, cellular homeostasis, responses to different stresses and programmed cell death, illustrate the complexity of the regulatory networks related to a plant HSF. Diversity in plant HSFs facilitates the adaptation to multiple adverse environmental conditions, an important feature in response to climate change.
20 Jul 2020Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
20 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
20 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
31 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Aug 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending