Alternative Splicing Provides a Mechanism to Regulate LlHSFA3 Function in Response to Heat Stress in Lily

LlHSFA3B-III interacted with LlHSFA3A-I to limit its transactivation function and temper the function of LlHSFA3A-I, thus reducing the adverse effects of excessive LlHSFA3A-I accumulation. Based on these observations, we propose a regulatory mechanism of HSFs involving heat-inducible alternative splicing and protein interaction, which might be used in strategies to promote thermotolerance and attenuate the heat stress response in crop plants.