Role of GRAS Transcription Factor in Plant Growth, Development and Various Stresses: A Review

Abstract

The GRAS transcription factor family is a plant-specific regulatory proteins that play fundamental roles in various biological processes. The acronym “GRAS” stands for “Gibberellic Acid Insensitive, Repressor of GA1-3 and Scarecrow,” representing three of its founding members. Additionally, GRAS members are instrumental in orchestrating symbiotic interactions, stress responses and other vital physiological functions. The N-terminal of GRAS protein is very diverse, but the C-terminal GRAS domain is conserved. The GRAS proteins’ C-terminal conserved domain directly influences how they work. For instance, in the Arabidopsis plant, alterations to the phenotype of the slender rice 1 (SLR1) and Repressor of GA (RGA) proteins result from mutations in this domain. More than 30 plant species have been found to have GRAS proteins, which have been classified into 17 subfamilies so far. This review focused on the structural characteristics of GRAS proteins, their growth and diversity in plants, GRAS-interacting protein complexes and their function in biological processes. Moreover, GRAS proteins also mediate responses to phytohormones, such as gibberellins and strigolactones and regulate phytochrome signaling, which is crucial for light perception and plant growth. It also discussed the significance of GRAS proteins throughout various biological processes in plants. Additionally, we outlined recent studies that used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to modify GRAS genes in a plant for various features. Additionally, there have been discussions of using GRAS genes in agricultural enhancement efforts.