Auxin response transcription factors (ARFs) form a large gene family, many of whose members operate at the final step of the auxin signaling pathway. ARFs participate directly in many aspects of plant growth and development. Here we summarize recent advances in understanding the roles of ARFs in regulating aspects of fleshy fruit development and ripening. ARFs play a crucial role in regulating fruit size, color, nutrients, texture, yield, and other properties that ultimately influence the ripening and quality of important crops such as tomato, apple, strawberry, and peach. ARFs impact these processes acting as positive, negative, or bidirectional regulators via phytohormone-dependent or -independent mechanisms. In the phytohormone-dependent pathway, ARFs act as a central hub linking interactions with multiple phytohormones generating diverse effects. The three domains within ARFs, namely the DNA-binding domain, the middle region, and the carboxy-terminal dimerization domain, exhibit distinct yet overlapping functions, contributing to a range of mechanisms mediated by ARFs. These findings not only provide a profound understanding of ARF functions, but also raise new questions. Further exploration can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of fleshy fruit development and ripening mediated by ARFs.

中文翻译：

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生长素响应因子：理解肉质果实发育和成熟的调控机制的重要关键


生长素反应转录因子 （ARF） 形成一个大型基因家族，其中许多成员在生长素信号通路的最后一步发挥作用。ARF 直接参与植物生长和发育的许多方面。在这里，我们总结了理解 ARFs 在调节肉质果实发育和成熟方面的作用的最新进展。ARF 在调节果实大小、颜色、营养成分、质地、产量和其他特性方面起着至关重要的作用，这些特性最终影响番茄、苹果、草莓和桃子等重要作物的成熟和质量。ARF 通过植物激素依赖性或不依赖性机制影响这些过程，充当积极、消极或双向调节剂。在植物激素依赖性途径中，ARF 充当连接与多种植物激素相互作用的中心枢纽，产生不同的效果。ARF 中的三个结构域，即 DNA 结合结构域、中间区域和羧基末端二聚化结构域，表现出不同但重叠的功能，有助于 ARF 介导的一系列机制。这些发现不仅提供了对 ARF 功能的深刻理解，也提出了新的问题。进一步的探索可以导致对 ARFs 介导的肉质果实发育和成熟的调控机制的更全面理解。