REVIEW: Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction in the ICE–CBF–COR Signaling Pathway during Cold Stress in Plants

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Da-Zhi Wang^1#, Ya-Nan Jin^1,2#, Xi-Han Ding¹, Wen-Jia Wang³, Shan-Shan Zhai¹, Li-Ping Bai^3*, and Zhi-Fu Guo^1*

¹College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China; E-mail: zhifuguo@hotmail.com

²College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China

³Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China; E-mail: bailp2003@126.com

^# These authors contributed equally to this work.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 5, 2017; Revision received July 3, 2017

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Low temperature is an abiotic stress that adversely affects the growth and production of plants. Resistance and adaptation of plants to cold stress is dependent upon the activation of molecular networks and pathways involved in signal transduction and the regulation of cold-stress related genes. Because it has numerous and complex genes, regulation factors, and pathways, research on the ICE–CBF–COR signaling pathway is the most studied and detailed, which is thought to be rather important for cold resistance of plants. In this review, we focus on the function of each member, interrelation among members, and the influence of manipulators and repressors in the ICE–CBF–COR pathway. In addition, regulation and signal transduction concerning plant hormones, circadian clock, and light are discussed. The studies presented provide a detailed picture of the ICE–CBF–COR pathway.

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KEY WORDS: low temperature, cold tolerance, ICE–CBF–COR pathway, gene regulation, signal transduction

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297917100030

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