Low temperature stress-induced perception and molecular signaling pathways in plants

Plant geographical distribution, growth and development, and yield, are to a greater extend affected by the environmental factors, including cold stress. Low-temperature affects enzyme activity, membrane functionality, and cell dehydration, leading to cell metabolic instability or autophagy. Nonetheless, plants have evolved complex biochemical and molecular mechanisms to adapt to cold stress, regulated through transcriptional and translational modifications of genes. These complex mechanisms are principally divided into ABA-dependent and-independent pathways. Abscisic acid (ABA), as a crucial component in the pathways during the cold stress, regulates the expression of Cold-Responsive (COR) genes through several transcription factors such as the bZIP, HOS members, homo box, H4, and Zn finger factors. Particularly, in the ABA-independent pathway, the cold stress is regulated through the C-repeat binding factors (CBFs), and ABA activates the expression of the Inducer of CBF expression 1 (ICE1) through the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Consequently, upregulating the transcription and expression of CBF genes and COR genes downstream in a chain reaction, through binding to the C-repeat/Dehydration Responsive Element (CRT/DRE). In addition, the transcriptional and post-translational modifications (PTMs) modulate gene expressions in the signaling cascade at various levels of response leading to plant low temperature stress acclimation. This review paper discusses and summarizes the molecular mechanisms governing cold stress responses, addressing current researches and findings in light of the cold stress and their implications on plant genetic improvement.