Research Progresses on Functions of Plant bHLH Transcription Factors Involved in Abiotic Stresses
Basic/Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors are widely found in animals and plants.Although the functions of most bHLH proteins have been identified,studies on bHLH transcription factors in plants still fall behind.The bHLH proteins in plants are the second large family of transcription factors,which play important roles in plant growth development,physiological metabolism and stress responses.The adaptive responses of plants to abiotic stresses have been realized mainly through complex signaling pathways changing the expressions of many downstream genes.Here,structure characteristics,classification and biological functions of plant bHLH transcription factors are introduced,especially the new progress involved in abiotic stresses,so as to provide a theoretical reference for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plant stress-responsive regulation.