Plant transcription factors in light-regulated development and UV-B protection

Light is one of the most essential developmental cues for plants. It governs the development of plants from seed germination to maturation. Plants respond to both presence and absence of light via their signaling components. Different wavelengths of light stimulate the respective set of photoreceptors such as phytochromes, cryptochromes, phototropins, and UVR8, which further transduce the signals to transcription factors (TFs). These TFs bind to the promoter of target genes by identifying specific light-responsive elements. This chapter explains the structural and functional aspects of the wide range of light-responsive TFs, their interaction with other signaling pathways, and the evolution of these regulatory proteins that help plants to interpret multiple environmental signals to optimize their growth and development.