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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0International Journal of Molecular Sciences

BZR1 and BES1: From Brassinosteroid Signaling Termini to Multifunctional Integrators of Plant Growth and Environmental Adaptation

  • Fengxiao Guo1
  • Shenghong Ge1
  • Mingguang Lei1
  1. 1College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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Abstract

BZR1 (Brassinazole-resistant 1) and BES1 (bri1-EMS suppressor1) are the principal transcription factors that convert brassinosteroid (BR) perception into genome-wide transcriptional programs governing plant growth, development, and stress responses. Once regarded as end-effectors of a linear receptor-to-nucleus relay, they are now recognized as central hubs that integrate diverse endogenous and environmental cues into context-specific transcriptional outputs. We synthesize recent progress across four connected levels. Structurally, a modular architecture enables simultaneous target recognition, signal input, and output control. Mechanistically, the canonical BIN2-mediated phosphorylation switch is expanded by upstream regulators that couple membrane dynamics, carbon status, protein homeostasis, and nuclear import to BZR1/BES1, while ubiquitination, SUMOylation, redox modification, and acetylation form an interconnected post-translational network. During transcriptional execution, dephosphorylated BZR1/BES1 partition targets into activated and repressed sets through cis-element preference, corepressor recruitment, chromatin modifiers, and partnerships with factors such as PIF4 and ARF6. Physiologically, BZR1/BES1 coordinate anutrient-responsive metabolism, yield-related traits, and abiotic-stress tolerance, with marked functional divergence among crop orthologs. We highlight open questions in signal-integration specificity and discuss how BZR1/BES1 modules could be engineered for climate-resilient crops.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{guo2026bzr1,
  title = {{BZR1 and BES1: From Brassinosteroid Signaling Termini to Multifunctional Integrators of Plant Growth and Environmental Adaptation}},
  author = {Fengxiao Guo and Shenghong Ge and Mingguang Lei},
  journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/ijms27219434},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9434},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - BZR1 and BES1: From Brassinosteroid Signaling Termini to Multifunctional Integrators of Plant Growth and Environmental Adaptation
AU  - Fengxiao Guo
AU  - Shenghong Ge
AU  - Mingguang Lei
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/22
JO  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO  - 10.3390/ijms27219434
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9434
AB  - BZR1 (Brassinazole-resistant 1) and BES1 (bri1-EMS suppressor1) are the principal transcription factors that convert brassinosteroid (BR) perception into genome-wide transcriptional programs governing plant growth, development, and stress responses. Once regarded as end-effectors of a linear receptor-to-nucleus relay, they are now recognized as central hubs that integrate diverse endogenous and environmental cues into context-specific transcriptional outputs. We synthesize recent progress across four connected levels. Structurally, a modular architecture enables simultaneous target recognition, signal input, and output control. Mechanistically, the canonical BIN2-mediated phosphorylation switch is expanded by upstream regulators that couple membrane dynamics, carbon status, protein homeostasis, and nuclear import to BZR1/BES1, while ubiquitination, SUMOylation, redox modification, and acetylation form an interconnected post-translational network. During transcriptional execution, dephosphorylated BZR1/BES1 partition targets into activated and repressed sets through cis-element preference, corepressor recruitment, chromatin modifiers, and partnerships with factors such as PIF4 and ARF6. Physiologically, BZR1/BES1 coordinate anutrient-responsive metabolism, yield-related traits, and abiotic-stress tolerance, with marked functional divergence among crop orthologs. We highlight open questions in signal-integration specificity and discuss how BZR1/BES1 modules could be engineered for climate-resilient crops.
SN  - 1422-0067
ER  -