Computational Molecular Biology 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 38-52 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/cmb 38 Feature Review Open Access Transcriptional Networks in Rapeseed Development and Stress Responses Xuelian Jiang, Xuming Lv, Yeping Han Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: yeping.han@jicat.org Computational Molecular Biology, 2025, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/cmb.2025.15.0004 Received: 18 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 29 Jan., 2025 Published: 17 Feb., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Jiang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Jiang X.L., Lv X.M., and Han Y.P., 2025, Transcriptional networks in rapeseed development and stress responses, Computational Molecular Biology, 15(1): 38-52 (doi: 10.5376/cmb.2025.15.0004) Abstract Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a globally significant oil crop, and its development and stress responses are precisely controlled by a complex transcriptional regulatory network to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Key transcription factors (such as the AP2/ERF, MYB, and WRKY families) play a core role in the formation of plant stress resistance by coordinating the regulation of hormone signaling, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and osmotic adjustment pathways. Meanwhile, long non-coding RNAs and epigenetic modifications (such as DNA methylation) further enhance the gene regulatory capacity of plants under abiotic stress conditions like drought, salt stress, and low temperature. With the development of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, precise editing of key transcription factors has become possible, providing an effective strategy for the breeding of stress-resistant rapeseed varieties. By integrating multi-omics data and genetic variation analysis, the breeding process can be significantly accelerated, opening up new paths for sustainable rapeseed production in the context of climate change. Keywords Transcriptional networks; Rapeseed; Stress responses; Transcription factors; Epigenetic regulation 1 Introduction Speaking of it, rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) looks ordinary, but don't underestimate it. It can be regarded as the "top star" among oil crops worldwide. Oil can be eaten, meal can be fed, and biodiesel cannot do without it (Xiong et al., 2022). If you ask what special ability it has, it does have one-strong adaptability. It can endure both the north and the south, cold and warm, dry and wet conditions. Except for extremely bad weather, it is not very picky about the environment. It is precisely for this reason that many places are willing to grow it. Not to mention the economic benefits it brings. This is very direct for farmers. Crops that can make money, naturally, no one finds them troublesome. When it comes to vegetable oil, many people might first think of soybean oil or palm oil. But in fact, rapeseed is not a nobody. It has consistently ranked third in global vegetable oil production (Wang et al., 2022). Why is it so popular? The reason is not complicated. Using it for stir-frying or processing food is relatively healthy-it has low saturated fat and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. After oil extraction, the remaining rapeseed meal is not wasted either. It has a high protein content and is most suitable to be directly used as feed. And now a new use is beginning to emerge: making biodiesel. Although it is not used much at present, when it comes to reducing reliance on traditional energy sources, this path is indeed worthy of attention. Rapeseed, if you say it's delicate, is actually not fragile at all. It can survive cold weather, drought and even a little saline-alkali soil (Pu et al., 2019). This story begins with its "origin"-it was originally a hybrid of brassica and cabbage, and its genome is particularly complex (Zhou et al., 2022). It is precisely this complex "foundation" that has provided more operational space for breeding. Whether it is for yield or oil quality, targeted improvements can be made. Of course, it is not made of iron. In the event of extreme weather, its output will still be affected. Looking at it now, the reason why it can be so "resilient" is that it relies on a group of transcription factors and stress genes responsible for coping with adverse conditions in the body. They act like switches, activating when necessary and mobilizing resistance. When it comes to how plants cope with harsh environments, the key lies in those invisible genetic regulations. For example, when rapeseed is exposed to conditions such as cold and drought, a complex emergency mechanism will
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