Role of NAC Gene Transcription Factors in the Regulation of Abiotic Stress Responses in Cereal Crops
Abstract
NAC transcriptional regulators are plant-specific proteins involved in various developmental stages and tissues. The NAC acronym is derived from three genes initially discovered to contain a specific domain called the NAC domain: NAM (No apical Meristem), ATAF, and CUC (cup-shaped cotyledon). This family represents one of the largest groups of transcriptional regulators in plants, and their members have been implicated in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming during plant stress responses. This review aims to explore the regulation of stress-responsive NAC genes involved in conferring resistance to various stresses. It provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge regarding NAC gene transcription factors' response to abiotic stresses, including drought, cold, salinity, osmotic stress, temperature stress, nutrient efficiency, and phytohormone signaling pathways. The review highlights the crucial role of NAC genes in abiotic stress tolerance, and their overexpression has the potential to enhance stress tolerance through biotechnological approaches.
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