The Trihelix transcription factor family has raised great concerns only in recent years. It was named after its conserved DNA binding domain containing three tandem helix (helix-loop-helix-loop-helix), which could bind specifically with GT element, a light-responsive DNA element So, mis family is also known as GT factors. At the early stage of study, the knowledge of this family was only confined to their functions in regulation of light-responsive genes. However, recent researches indicated that Trihelix family also plays important roles in different growth and development processes involving flowers, stomata, trichomes, embryos, and seeds, as well as roles in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. This review mainly focused on the structural characteristics, classification, and the latest functional research progresses on the Trihelix family.%Trihelix转录因子家族是一类最近才被引发关注的基因家族,其因在DNA结合结构域含有3个串联的螺旋结构(螺旋-环-螺旋-环-螺旋)而得名,该结构域能特异地与DNA序列上的光应答元件GT元件结合,所以该家族也被称为GT因子家族.在研究早期,人们对该基因家族的认识只局限于它们对光依赖型靶基因的调控,而最近10年的研究表明,该家族基因在植物的花、气孔、表皮毛、胚胎和种子的发育等不同生长发育过程中,以及在病害、盐胁迫、干旱胁迫和冷胁迫等生物胁迫和非生物胁迫应答过程中都扮演重要角色.文章主要从Trihelix转录因子家族的结构特点、分类以及最新的功能研究进展进行详细综述.
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