transcription-factors
Transcription factors are proteins that regulate gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences and controlling how genetic information is transcribed into messenger RNA. In plant science, they play a critical role in coordinating developmental processes such as flowering, seed formation, stress responses, and organ differentiation. Understanding transcription factor networks allows researchers to uncover the molecular switches that govern how plants grow, adapt, and respond to environmental conditions.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-10
Scientists identified two proteins that work together to control how many fibers grow on cotton seeds and how long those fibers become, revealing a new molecular switch that could be used to breed higher-quality cotton.
Knocking out both GhAGL1 and GhAGL4 using CRISPR gene editing caused a stronger reduction in fiber number and length than knocking out either gene alone, confirming they work as a team.
The protein pair activates a downstream gene (a CCCH zinc finger factor) that in turn switches on cell-wall-loosening enzymes (XTH16 and XTH23) required for fiber elongation.
A known fiber regulator, GhMYB25-like, amplifies the activity of the GhAGL1–GhAGL4 protein complex, placing this duo within a broader regulatory network controlling fiber development from the very start.
