NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC) transcription factors in different stresses and their signaling pathway

Plants have evolved several molecular mechanisms to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses. Successful adaptation to stress is regulated through the activation or repression of the effects of transcription factors on specific target genes. The NAC (NAM, ATAF and CUC) transcription factors (TFs), which constitute one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor family, have been reported to be involved in plant development, biotic and abiotic stress regulation. Thus NAC TFs might be promising candidates for improving plants’ stress tolerance. Ongoing research on this transcription factor family has greatly broadened our knowledge in terms of its structure, functions, interaction with phytohormones, evolution and usage. This review focuses on the current status of NACs as regulators of stress.