PlantTFDB
PlantRegMap/PlantTFDB v5.0
Plant Transcription Factor Database
Citrullus lanatus
WRKY Family
Species TF ID Description
Cla002084WRKY family protein
Cla002243WRKY family protein
Cla003370WRKY family protein
Cla004233WRKY family protein
Cla004431WRKY family protein
Cla004492WRKY family protein
Cla004938WRKY family protein
Cla005515WRKY family protein
Cla006015WRKY family protein
Cla006772WRKY family protein
Cla007306WRKY family protein
Cla007307WRKY family protein
Cla007656WRKY family protein
Cla007761WRKY family protein
Cla008104WRKY family protein
Cla008346WRKY family protein
Cla008480WRKY family protein
Cla009235WRKY family protein
Cla009557WRKY family protein
Cla009748WRKY family protein
Cla009853WRKY family protein
Cla009969WRKY family protein
Cla010216WRKY family protein
Cla010867WRKY family protein
Cla010918WRKY family protein
Cla013052WRKY family protein
Cla013402WRKY family protein
Cla013485WRKY family protein
Cla013967WRKY family protein
Cla014433WRKY family protein
Cla014665WRKY family protein
Cla014818WRKY family protein
Cla015003WRKY family protein
Cla015154WRKY family protein
Cla015673WRKY family protein
Cla016540WRKY family protein
Cla017213WRKY family protein
Cla017345WRKY family protein
Cla017355WRKY family protein
Cla017851WRKY family protein
Cla018026WRKY family protein
Cla018059WRKY family protein
Cla018197WRKY family protein
Cla018733WRKY family protein
Cla018870WRKY family protein
Cla019127WRKY family protein
Cla019646WRKY family protein
Cla019756WRKY family protein
Cla020642WRKY family protein
Cla021021WRKY family protein
Cla021067WRKY family protein
Cla021170WRKY family protein
Cla021203WRKY family protein
Cla021207WRKY family protein
Cla021806WRKY family protein
Cla021984WRKY family protein
Cla022362WRKY family protein
WRKY Family Introduction

WRKY transcription factors are one of the largest families of transcriptional regulators in plants and form integral parts of signalling webs that modulate many plant processes. Here, we review recent significant progress in WRKY transcription factor research. New findings illustrate that WRKY proteins often act as repressors as well as activators, and that members of the family play roles in both the repression and de-repression of important plant processes. Furthermore, it is becoming clear that a single WRKY transcription factor might be involved in regulating several seemingly disparate processes. Mechanisms of signalling and transcriptional regulation are being dissected, uncovering WRKY protein functions via interactions with a diverse array of protein partners, including MAP kinases, MAP kinase kinases, 14-3-3 proteins, calmodulin, histone deacetylases, resistance proteins and other WRKY transcription factors. WRKY genes exhibit extensive autoregulation and cross-regulation that facilitates transcriptional reprogramming in a dynamic web with built-in redundancy.

The defining feature of WRKY transcription factors is their DNA binding domain. This is called the WRKY domain after the almost invariant WRKY amino acid sequence at the N-terminus. In a few WRKY proteins, the WRKY amino acid sequences have been replaced by WRRY, WSKY, WKRY, WVKY or WKKY. The WRKY domain is about 60 residues in length, and as well as containing the WRKY signature it also has an atypical zinc-finger structure at the C-terminus. The zinc-finger structure is either Cx4-5Cx22-23HxH or Cx7Cx23HxC. Initially, in the absence of a complete gene family from any plant species, the WRKY transcription factors were divided into three groups based on the number of WRKY domains (two domains in Group I proteins and one in the others) and the structure of their zinc fingers (C2HC in Group III proteins).

Rushton PJ, Somssich IE, Ringler P, Shen QJ.
WRKY transcription factors.
Trends Plant Sci, 2010. 15(5): p. 247-58.
PMID: 20304701