Review: WRKY transcription factors: Understanding the functional divergence

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in the growth and development of plants and their response to environmental changes. WRKY TFs have been detected in sequenced plant genomes. The functions and regulatory networks of many WRKY TFs, especially from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtWRKY TFs), have been revealed, and the origin of WRKY TFs in plants is clear. Nonetheless, the relationship between WRKY TFs function and classification is unclear. Furthermore, the functional divergence of homologous WRKY TFs in plants is unclear. In this review, WRKY TFs were explored based on WRKY-related literature published from 1994 to 2022. WRKY TFs were identified in 234 species at the genome and transcriptome levels. The biological functions of similar to 71 % of AtWRKY TFs were uncovered. Although functional divergence occurred in homologous WRKY TFs, different WRKY TF groups had no preferential function.

Automated summary

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are important for plant growth, development, and response to environmental changes. They have been detected in plant genomes, especially in Arabidopsis thaliana, and their functions and regulatory networks have been studied. However, the relationship between their function and classification, as well as the functional divergence of homologous WRKY TFs, remains unclear.