Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y): Developmental and Stress-Responsive Roles in the Plant Lineage

The Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) family of transcription factors is ubiquitous, heterotrimeric complex which regulates plant growth, development, and stress responses. As compared to animals and fungi, the number of NF-Y subunits has significantly expanded in higher plants. NF-Ys display differential stress-responsive gene expression in various tissues and interact with abiotic stress signaling pathways to remediate the plant stress responses. The NF-Y complex regulates the target gene expression either by directly binding the promoter CCAAT- boxes or by physically interacting and mediating the binding of transcriptional activators or repressors. NF-Ys also play pivotal roles in symbiotic root nodule development, abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated seed germination, primary root development, photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, and reproductive development. Several such functions have placed NF-Ys at the center stage of growth, development, and stress responses in the plant lineage. Herein, we have reviewed and examined the evolutionary pattern of NF-Ys, their role in plant development, biotic & abiotic stress responses, functional trait improvement, and their precise involvement in the signaling and regulatory networks associated with plant growth, development and defense.