International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 111-123 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 112 systematically analyze its regulatory network to provide a useful reference for the cultivation of high-yield and stress-resistant varieties and the genetic improvement of other crops. 2 Basics of Gene Expression and Regulation in Plants 2.1 Complex network of transcriptional regulation The plant genome contains a highly sophisticated transcriptional regulatory system. The results of whole-genome sequencing of rapeseed showed that about 6 061 genes have potential transcriptional regulatory functions, of which about one-third have significant changes in expression when subjected to low temperature stress (Waseem et al., 2024). MYB transcription factors often form functional modules with bHLH proteins, recognize specific cis-acting elements, and then activate target gene expression. NAC family members show special DNA binding ability and play an important role in chitin-mediated signaling pathways. It is worth noting that regulatory SNP (rSNP) variations in the genome can significantly change the binding affinity of transcription factors, thereby affecting a variety of agronomic traits including oil content (Klees et al., 2021). 2.2 Precision mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation From the beginning of mRNA transcription, its fate is strictly controlled by a series of mechanisms. Under boron deficiency conditions, the special 5'-UTR structure of the BnaC4.BOR1;1c gene significantly improved the stability of its mRNA, almost doubling its expression level (Wang et al., 2021), which facilitated the effective absorption and utilization of boron. On the other hand, alternative splicing also plays an irreplaceable role in regulating protein diversity. A gene can produce multiple protein isoforms through different splicing methods, thus giving plants stronger environmental adaptability (Kourani et al., 2022). 2.3 Dynamic regulation of protein synthesis Protein translation is not just a linear translation process of genetic information. The 5'-UTR region of some mRNAs in rapeseed contains regulatory elements that can recruit different initiation factors, resulting in a more than ten-fold difference in translation efficiency (Wang et al., 2021). The post-translational modification process of proteins is more complex and highly dynamic. For example, phosphorylation can quickly turn on or off protein activity; ubiquitination determines its degradation rate and half-life; and acetylation can change the selectivity of protein-protein interactions (Zhang et al., 2020). These modifications work together to build a flexible regulatory system that allows plants to respond precisely to changing environments. 3 Key Transcription Factors in Developmental Regulation 3.1 Multifunctional regulation of the AP2/ERF family In Brassica napus, members of the AP2/ERF family are considered to be "molecular hubs" in complex regulatory networks. Phylogenetic studies have divided them into five subfamilies with different functions, each of which plays a key role in specific developmental or stress processes (Ghorbani et al., 2020). In root tissues, the expression of these genes is particularly active, suggesting that they have important functions in root development (Owji et al., 2017). It is worth noting that after plants encounter salt stress, the expression of ERF subfamily members can be significantly upregulated in just 6 hours, with an increase of more than eight times. Not only that, these proteins also have the ability to integrate environmental signals with plant hormone (such as abscisic acid) pathways, showing cross-level regulatory characteristics, highlighting their versatility in stress response. 3.2 Regulation of reproductive development by MADS-box genes MADS-box genes are like precisely chimeric "molecular gears" that participate in and drive the entire reproductive development process of rapeseed. Type I members undertake basic regulatory tasks, while type II is particularly critical in the formation of floral organs with its fine regulatory ability (Song et al., 2023). Among them, the role of BnaAGL11 runs through the flowering to senescence stage, not only affecting the morphological construction of flowers, but also participating in the regulation of leaf senescence (He et al., 2022). Whole genome analysis found that more than 40% of MADS-box genes have undergone functional differentiation through the polyploidization process. This genetic innovation has greatly enriched the ability of rapeseed to adapt to different ecological environments (Figure 1) (Wu et al., 2018).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==