Molecular Regulation of CBF Signaling in Cold Acclimation

Cold stress restricts plant growth, development, and distribution. Understanding how plants transduce and respond to cold signals has long been a topic of interest. Traditional genetic and molecular analyses have identified C-repeat/DREB binding factors (CBFs) as key transcription factors that function in cold acclimation. Recent studies revealed the involvement of pivotal protein kinases and transcription factors in CBF-dependent signaling, expanding our knowledge of cold signal transduction from perception to downstream gene expression events. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the molecular regulation of these core components of the CBF cold signaling pathway. Knowledge of the mechanism underlying the ability of plants to survive freezing temperatures will facilitate the development of crop plants with increased freezing tolerance.