Novel roles of HSFs and HSPs, other than relating to heat stress, in temperature-mediated flowering

Ann Bot. 2023 Dec 5;132(6):1103-1106. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcad112.

Abstract

The thermotolerant ability of heat shock factors (HSFs) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in plants has been shown. Recently, focus has been on their function in plant growth and development under non-stress conditions. Their role in flowering has been suggested given that lower levels of HSF/HSPs resulted in altered flowering in Arabidopsis. Genetic and molecular studies of Arabidopsis HSF/HSP mutants advocated an association with temperature-mediated regulation of flowering, but the fundamental genetic mechanism behind this phenomenon remains obscure. Here we outline plausible integration between HSFs/HSPs and temperature-dependent pathways in plants regulating flowering. Moreover, we discuss how similar pathways can be present in thermoperiodic geophytic plants that require ambient high temperatures for flowering induction.

Keywords: Ambient temperature; flowering; geophytes; heat shock proteins; heat shock transcription factors; non-stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis* / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Heat-Shock Proteins* / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins* / metabolism
  • Heat-Shock Response / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Temperature
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Heat Shock Transcription Factors
  • Plant Proteins