AUTHOR=Li Si-Bei , Xie Zong-Zhou , Hu Chun-Gen , Zhang Jin-Zhi 

TITLE=A Review of Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) in Plants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2016.00047

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2016.00047

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Auxin is a key regulator of virtually every aspect of plant growth and development from embryogenesis to senescence. Previous studies have indicated that auxin regulates these processes by controlling gene expression via a family of functionally distinct DNA-binding <italic>auxin response factors</italic> (<italic>ARFs</italic>). <italic>ARFs</italic> are likely components that confer specificity to auxin response through selection of target genes as transcription factors. They bind to auxin response DNA elements (AuxRE) in the promoters of auxin-regulated genes and either activate or repress transcription of these genes depending on a specific domain in the middle of the protein. Genetic studies have implicated various <italic>ARFs</italic> in distinct developmental processes through loss-of-function mutant analysis. Recent advances have provided information on the regulation of <italic>ARF</italic> gene expression, the role of <italic>ARFs</italic> in growth and developmental processes, protein–protein interactions of ARFs and target genes regulated by <italic>ARFs</italic> in plants. In particular, protein interaction and structural studies of ARF proteins have yielded novel insights into the molecular basis of auxin-regulated transcription. These results provide the foundation for predicting the contributions of <italic>ARF</italic> genes to the biology of other plants.</p>