REVIEW: Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Plant MYB Transcription Factor Family

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Hai Du^1,2, Li Zhang², Lei Liu^1,2, Xiao-Feng Tang^1,2, Wen-Jie Yang², Yan-Min Wu², Yu-Bi Huang^1*, and Yi-Xiong Tang²*

¹Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan Sichuan 625014, China; E-mail: yubihuang@sohu.com

²Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; E-mail: tangyx@mail.caas.net.cn

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received November 16, 2007; Revision received February 22, 2008

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MYB genes are widely distributed in higher plants and comprise one of the largest transcription factors, which are characterized by the presence of a highly conserved MYB domain at their N-termini. Over recent decades, biochemical and molecular characterizations of MYB have been extensively studied and reported to be involved in many physiological and biochemical processes. This review describes current knowledge of their structure characteristic, classification, multi-functionality, mechanism of combinational control, evolution, and function redundancy. It shows that the MYB transcription factors play a key role in plant development, such as secondary metabolism, hormone signal transduction, disease resistance, cell shape, organ development, etc. Furthermore, the expression of some members of the MYB family shows tissue-specificity.

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KEY WORDS: MYB transcription factors, classification, secondary metabolism, multi-functionality, signal transduction

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297909010015

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