NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops
Within the last decade, NAC transcription factors have been shown to play essential roles in senescence, which is the focus of this review. Transcriptome analyses associate approximately one third of Arabidopsis NAC genes and many crop NAC genes with senescence, thereby implicating NAC genes as impo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/4/3/412 |
| _version_ | 1818998890187194368 |
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| author | Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka Charlotte O'Shea Per L. Gregersen Karen Skriver |
| author_facet | Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka Charlotte O'Shea Per L. Gregersen Karen Skriver |
| author_sort | Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within the last decade, NAC transcription factors have been shown to play essential roles in senescence, which is the focus of this review. Transcriptome analyses associate approximately one third of Arabidopsis NAC genes and many crop NAC genes with senescence, thereby implicating NAC genes as important regulators of the senescence process. The consensus DNA binding site of the NAC domain is used to predict NAC target genes, and protein interaction sites can be predicted for the intrinsically disordered transcription regulatory domains of NAC proteins. The molecular characteristics of these domains determine the interactions in gene regulatory networks. Emerging local NAC-centered gene regulatory networks reveal complex molecular mechanisms of stress- and hormone-regulated senescence and basic physiological steps of the senescence process. For example, through molecular interactions involving the hormone abscisic acid, Arabidopsis NAP promotes chlorophyll degradation, a hallmark of senescence. Furthermore, studies of the functional rice ortholog, OsNAP, suggest that NAC genes can be targeted to obtain specific changes in lifespan control and nutrient remobilization in crop plants. This is also exemplified by the wheat NAM1 genes which promote senescence and increase grain zinc, iron, and protein content. Thus, NAC genes are promising targets for fine-tuning senescence for increased yield and quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T22:08:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b8f7c1a7f614a4b9ab7c46dac8d9982 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T22:08:43Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b8f7c1a7f614a4b9ab7c46dac8d99822022-12-21T19:25:12ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472015-07-014341244810.3390/plants4030412plants4030412NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in CropsDagmara Podzimska-Sroka0Charlotte O'Shea1Per L. Gregersen2Karen Skriver3Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse DK-4200, DenmarkDepartment of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, DenmarkDepartment of Genetics and Biotechnology, Aarhus University, Forsøgsvej 1, Slagelse DK-4200, DenmarkDepartment of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 5 Ole Maaloesvej, Copenhagen DK-2200, DenmarkWithin the last decade, NAC transcription factors have been shown to play essential roles in senescence, which is the focus of this review. Transcriptome analyses associate approximately one third of Arabidopsis NAC genes and many crop NAC genes with senescence, thereby implicating NAC genes as important regulators of the senescence process. The consensus DNA binding site of the NAC domain is used to predict NAC target genes, and protein interaction sites can be predicted for the intrinsically disordered transcription regulatory domains of NAC proteins. The molecular characteristics of these domains determine the interactions in gene regulatory networks. Emerging local NAC-centered gene regulatory networks reveal complex molecular mechanisms of stress- and hormone-regulated senescence and basic physiological steps of the senescence process. For example, through molecular interactions involving the hormone abscisic acid, Arabidopsis NAP promotes chlorophyll degradation, a hallmark of senescence. Furthermore, studies of the functional rice ortholog, OsNAP, suggest that NAC genes can be targeted to obtain specific changes in lifespan control and nutrient remobilization in crop plants. This is also exemplified by the wheat NAM1 genes which promote senescence and increase grain zinc, iron, and protein content. Thus, NAC genes are promising targets for fine-tuning senescence for increased yield and quality.http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/4/3/412NAC transcription factordomain structuresenescenceabiotic stressgene regulatory networkcrop breeding |
| spellingShingle | Dagmara Podzimska-Sroka Charlotte O'Shea Per L. Gregersen Karen Skriver NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops Plants NAC transcription factor domain structure senescence abiotic stress gene regulatory network crop breeding |
| title | NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops |
| title_full | NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops |
| title_fullStr | NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops |
| title_full_unstemmed | NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops |
| title_short | NAC Transcription Factors in Senescence: From Molecular Structure to Function in Crops |
| title_sort | nac transcription factors in senescence from molecular structure to function in crops |
| topic | NAC transcription factor domain structure senescence abiotic stress gene regulatory network crop breeding |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/4/3/412 |
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