A defect-enriched PdMo bimetallene for ethanol oxidation reaction and 4-nitrophenol reduction.

A defect-enriched PdMo bimetallene (d-PdMo) was prepared by a one-pot wet chemical reaction followed by post-treatment of oxidative etching. The introduction of defects can tailor the electronic structure of PdMo bimetallene and the prepared d-PdMo bimetallene exhibited excellent performance in the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction reaction.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Dihydrobenzofuran Spirooxindoles and Their Transformation into Benzofuroquinolinones by Ring Expansion of Oxindole Core.

A mild and efficient approach for the diastereoselective synthesis of dihydrobenzofuran spirooxindoles using 3-chlorooxindoles and imines is presented. This process involves a formal [4 + 1] annulation, yielding the product with excellent diastereoselectivity. Furthermore, a novel method for constructing benzofuroquinolinone scaffolds through the ring expansion of oxindoles has been established. This method involves a lactam ring expansion to the quinolinone skeleton. Besides, a one-pot procedure for creating benzofuroquinolinone scaffolds from 3-chlorooxindoles and imines is also provided.

Photocatalyzed Oxidative Tandem Reaction Mediated by Bipyridinium for Multifunctional Derivatization of Alcohols.

The multifunctional derivatization of alcohols has been achieved by the bipyridinium-based conjugated small molecule photocatalysts with redox center and Lewis acid site. Besides exhibiting high activity in the selective generation of aldehydes/ketones, acids from alcohols through solvent modulation, this system renders the first selective synthesis of esters via an attractive cross-coupling pattern, whose reaction route is significantly different from the traditional condensation of alcohols and acids or esterification from hemiacetals. Following the oxidization of alcohol to aldehyde via bipyridinium-mediated electron and energy transfer, the Lewis acid site of bipyridinium then activates the aldehyde and methanol to obtain the acetal, which further reacts with methanol to generate ester. This method not only demonstrates a clear advantage of bipyridinium in diverse catalytic activities, but also paves the way for designing efficient multifunctional small molecule photocatalysts. This metal- and additive-free photocatalytic esterification reaction marks a significant advancement towards a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective and green sustainable approach, attributed to the utilization of renewable substrate alcohol and the abundant, low-cost air as the oxidant. The mildness of this esterification reaction condition provides a more suitable alternative for large-scale industrial production of esters.

AwSclB regulates a network for Aspergillus westerdijkiae asexual sporulation and secondary metabolism independent of the fungal light control.

As a prevalent pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus westerdijkiae poses a threat to both food safety and human health. The fungal growth, conidia production and ochratoxin A (OTA) in A. weterdijkiae are regulated by many factors especially transcription factors. In this study, a transcription factor AwSclB in A. westerdijkiae was identified and its function in asexual sporulation and OTA biosynthesis was investigated. In addition, the effect of light control on AwSclB regulation was also tested. The deletion of AwSclB gene could reduce conidia production by down-regulation of conidia genes and increase OTA biosynthesis by up-regulation of cluster genes, regardless under light or dark conditions. It is worth to note that the inhibitory effect of light on OTA biosynthesis was reversed by the knockout of AwSclB gene. The yeast one-hybrid assay indicated that AwSclB could interact with the promoters of BrlA, ConJ and OtaR1 genes. This result suggests that AwSclB in A. westerdijkiae can directly regulate asexual conidia formation by activating the central developmental pathway BrlA-AbaA-WetA through up-regulating the expression of AwBrlA, and promote the light response of the strain by activating ConJ. However, AwSclB itself is unable to respond to light regulation. This finding will deepen our understanding of the molecular regulation of A. westerdijkiae development and secondary metabolism, and provide potential targets for the development of new fungicides.

Comparative Analysis of Molecular Landscape in Mouse Models and Patients Reveals Conserved Inflammation Pathways in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify key genes and their regulatory networks that are conserved in mouse models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and human AMD. Methods: Retinal RNA-Seq was performed in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) mice at day 3 and day 7 after photocoagulation. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis was performed with retinas collected at day 3. Retinal RNA-Seq data was further compared among mouse models of laser-induced CNV and NaIO3-induced retinal degeneration (RD) and a large AMD cohort. Results: Retinal RNA-Seq revealed upregulated genes and pathways related to innate immunity and inflammation in mice with CNV, with more profound changes at the early stage (day 3). Proteomic analysis further validated these differentially expressed genes and their networks in retinal inflammation during CNV. Notably, the most evident overlap in the retina of mice with laser-induced CNV and NaIO3-induced RD was the upregulation of inflammation-related genes, pointing to a common vital role of retinal inflammation in the early stage for both mouse AMD models. Further comparative transcriptomic analysis of the mouse AMD models and human AMD identified 48 conserved genes mainly involved in inflammation response. Among them, B2M, C3, and SERPING1 were upregulated in all stages of human AMD and the mouse AMD models compared to controls. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates conserved molecular changes related to retinal inflammation in mouse AMD models and human AMD and provides new insight into the translational application of these mouse models in studying AMD mechanisms and treatments.

Prolonging the Cycle Stability of Anion Redox P3-Type Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 through Al2O3 Atomic Layer Deposition Surface Modification.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are becoming an alternative option for large-scale energy storage systems owing to their low cost and abundance. The lattice oxygen redox (LOR), which has the potential to increase the reversible capacity of materials, has promoted the development of high-energy cathode materials in SIBs. However, the utilization of oxygen anion redox reactions usually results in harmful lattice oxygen release, which hastens structural deformation and declines electrochemical performance, severely hindering their practical application. Herein, a ribbon-ordered superstructured P3-type Na0.6Li0.2Mn0.8O2 (NLMO) cathode with a uniform Al2O3 coating through atomic layer deposition (ALD) was synthesized. The cycling stability and rate capability of the materials were improved by a proper thickness of the Al2O3 layer. Differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) results clearly suggest that the Al2O3 coating can inhibit the CO2 release caused by the highly active surface of the NLMO material. Moreover, the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and etching X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show that the Al2O3 coating can effectively prevent electrolyte and electrode side reactions and the dissolution of Mn. This surface engineering strategy sheds light on the way to prolong the cycling stability of anionic redox cathode materials.

One-pot Tandem Synthesis and Spontaneous Product Separation of N-heterocycles based on Bifunctional Small-molecule Photocatalyst.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions wherein the resulting products remain dissolved in solvents generally require complicated separation and purification process, despite the advantage of heterogeneous systems allowing retrieval of catalysts. Herein, we have developed an efficient approach for the one-pot tandem synthesis of quinazolines, quinazolinones and benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxides from alcohols and amines utilizing a bifunctional bipyridinium photocatalyst with redox and Lewis acid sites using air as an oxidant. Through solvent-modulation strategy, the photocatalytic system exhibits high performance and enables most products to separate spontaneously. Consequently, the homogeneous catalyst can be reused by direct centrifugation isolation of the products. Notably, the method is also applicable to the less active substrates, such as heterocyclic alcohols and aliphatic alcohols, and thus provides an efficient and environmentally friendly photocatalytic route with spontaneous separation of N-heterocycles to reduce production costs and meet the needs of atomic economy and green chemistry.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the DC1 Domain Protein Gene Family in Tomatoes under Abiotic Stress.

DC1 (Divergent C1) domain proteins are a new class of proteins that have been discovered in recent years, which play an important role in plant growth, development, and stress response. In order to better study the distribution and function of DC1 domain proteins in tomatoes, a genome-wide identification was conducted. It was found that there are twenty-one DC1 domain protein genes distributed on nine chromosomes of tomatoes, named SlCHP1-21. Phylogenetic analysis shows that twenty-one SlCHP genes are divided into six subfamilies. Most of the SlCHP genes in tomatoes have no or very short introns. All SlCHP proteins, with the exception of SlCHP8 and SlCHP17, contain variable amounts of C1 domain. Analysis of the SlCHP gene promoter sequence revealed multiple cis-elements responsive to plant stress. qRT-CR analysis showed that most members of SlCHP gene expressed in the roots. The SlCHP11, 13, 16, 17, and SlCHP20 genes showed specific responses to high temperature, low temperature, salt, and drought stress. In addition, the subcellular localization and interaction proteins of SlCHP were analyzed and predicted. Together, these results provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the function and mechanism of the SlCHP gene in tomatoes.

Enhancing Overall Water Splitting via Anion and Cation Synergistical Modulation in NiS Amorphous Compound.

Designing and synthesizing cost-effective catalysts that exhibit excellent performance of both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a formidable task in the field of electrocatalysis. Herein, we present a Fe- and P-codoped NiS amorphous film catalyst (FeNiSP) via meticulous control over the cations and anions of metal compounds. The doped Fe and P increases active sites, reduces charge transfer resistance, and modulates electronic structures of the NiS matrix. Leveraging these advantages, the FeNiSP showcases exceptional bifunctional activities of HER and OER, with remarkably low overpotentials of only 135 and 330 mV for achieving a current density of 100 mA·cm-2 during HER and OER, respectively. Additionally, a low cell voltage of 1.56 V at 10 mA·cm-2 was achieved when it was employed as both the anode and the cathode for water splitting. Finally, density function theory calculations further elucidate that the simultaneous presence of Fe and P in the NiS amorphous film catalyst leads to a decrease in the band center of S and Ni. This consequential effect maintains a balanced adsorption/desorption of protons and strengthened the adsorption of O-based intermediates on the surface of FeNiSP, subsequently contributing to the outstanding electrocatalytic HER and OER activities.

Statistically and visually analyzing the latest advancements and future trends of uranium removal.

Uranium contamination and remediation is a very important environmental research area. Removing radioactive and toxic uranium from contaminated media requires fundamental knowledge of targets and materials. To explore the-State-of-the-Art in uranium contamination control, we employed a statistical tool called CiteSpace to visualize and statistically analyze 4203 peer-reviewed papers on uranium treatment published between 2008 and 2022. The primary content presentations of visual analysis were co-authorships, co-citations, keyword co-occurrence analysis with cluster analysis, which could offer purposeful information of research hots and trends in the field of uranium removal. The statistical analysis results indicated that studies on uranium removal have focused on adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution. From 2008 to 2022, biochar and biological treatment were firstly used to sequester uranium, then adsorption for uranium removal dominates with adsorbents of graphene oxide, primary nanofiber magnetic polymers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In recent years, photocatalysts and metal-organic frameworks are expected to be two of the most popular research topics. In addition, we further highlighted the characteristics and applications of MOFs and GOs in uranium removal. Overall, a statistical review was proposed to visualize and summarize the knowledge and research trends regarding uranium treatment.

Enhancing the Molecular Order and Vertical Component Distribution of the P3HT/O-IDTBR System during Layer-by-Layer Processing.

The molecular order and vertical component distribution are critical to enhance the charge transport in layer-by-layer (LbL) processed active layer. However, the excessive inter-diffusion between donor and acceptor layers during LbL processing irrepressibly reduces their ordered packing. Herein, a novel tactic to optimize the molecular order and vertical morphology of the active layer through suppressing the deep penetration of (5Z,5'Z)-5,5'-((7,7'-(4,4,9,9-tetraoctyl-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6 -b']dithiophene-2,7-diyl)bis(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-7,4-diyl))bis(methanylylidene)) bis(3-ethyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one) (O-IDTBR) to poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) film during LbL processing is proposed. This is enabled by inducing the formation of P3HT nanofibers through ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and solution aging. During the LbL processing, these nanofibers with high crystallinity reduce the damage of O-IDTBR solution to P3HT film and restrict the penetration of O-IDTBR into P3HT matrix. As a result, the P3HT nanofibers are preserved and the degree of vertical phase separation is enlarged in the LbL-processed film. Meanwhile, the molecular order of both components is enhanced. The resulting morphology that featured as intertwined P3HT nanofibers/O-IDTBR network efficiently promotes charge transport and extraction, boosting the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices from 6.70 ± 0.12% to 7.71 ± 0.10%.

Expression of NEAT1 can be used as a predictor for Dex resistance in multiple myeloma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disorder and the intratumor genetic heterogeneity contributes to emergency of drug resistance. Dexamethasone has been used clinically for decades for MM. Nevertheless, their use is severely hampered by the risk of developing side effects and the occurrence of Dex resistance. LncRNA NEAT1 plays a oncogenic role and participates in drug resistance in many solid tumors. Therefore, we investigated a potential usefulness of this molecular as a biomarker for diagnosis of MM and possible correlations of NEAT1 expression with drug resistance and prognosis. METHODS: Bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples were collected from 60 newly diagnosed MM patients. The expression of NEAT1expression level were detected by quantitative real-time PCR analyses. The relationship about the expression levels of lncRNA with other clinical and cytogenetic features was analyzed. In addition, we measured to analysis the correlation between the expression of NEAT1 and Dex resistance in MM patients. RESULTS: It was found that the expression of NEAT1 is significantly higher in multiple myeloma patients compared to controls and does not change with other clinical features and cytogenetic features. We further discovered that overexpression of NEAT1 was associated with Dex resistance and a poor prognosis in MM patients. CONCLUSION: LncRNA NEAT1 has a significant value that might act as a promoting factor in the development of MM and may be severed as a diagnostic factor in MM. NEAT1 invovled in Dex resistance, which provide a new interpretation during the chemotherapy for MM.

Correlation between serum 4-HNE and lactic acid levels and disease status in patients with severe pneumonia and its diagnostic value and prognostic evaluation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between serum 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and lactic acid (Lac) levels and the disease status of severe pneumonia (SP) patients, and to observe the value of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the prognosis assessment of SP patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 76 patients with SP (SP group) and 76 patients with general pneumonia (GP group) in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from September 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively collected. According to the survival status of SP patients 28 d after admission, they were divided into a survival group (49 cases) and a death group (27 cases). Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels were compared between groups. Pearson was used to observe the correlation between serum 4-HNE and Lac levels and SP disease status. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the evaluation efficacy of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels. RESULTS: The levels of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the SP group were higher than in the GP group (P<0.05). Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in SP patients were positively correlated with CURB-65 score (r=0.626; r=0.427, P<0.05). The levels of serum 4-HNE and Lac in the death group were higher than survival group (P<0.05). Area under curve (AUC) of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in the diagnosis of SP was 0.796 and 0.799 respectively. AUC for serum 4-HNE combined with Lac levels in the diagnosis of SP was 0.871. AUC of serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in predicting the prognosis of SP was 0.768 and 0.663 respectively. AUC of serum 4-HNE combined with Lac levels in predicting the prognosis of SP was 0.837. CONCLUSION: Serum 4-HNE and Lac levels in SP patients are significantly increased, and serum 4-HNE combined with Lac level has good application value in the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of SP.

Celastrol pretreatment attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice by suppressing interleukin-6/STAT3-interleukin-17 signaling.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Celastrol is extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. It has been reported to have protective effects against various liver diseases and immune regulation of autoimmune diseases. However, little is known about whether celastrol protects against immune-mediated hepatitis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol on liver injury induced by concanavalin A (ConA) and the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Intravenous administration of ConA was applied to induce acute liver injury in mice with or without pretreatment of celastrol. The effects of celastrol on ConA-induced liver injury were further demonstrated by biochemical and histopathological assessments, immunoblotting, and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: Both biochemical and histopathological observations showed that pretreatment of celastrol significantly ameliorated liver injury induced by ConA. Moreover, the hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammatory responses induced by ConA were also improved in celastrol-pretreated mice. Further studies revealed that these improvements were characterized as the celastrol-mediated suppression of total interleukin (IL)-17 from liver mononuclear cells in ConA-treated mice. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that celastrol specifically decreased IL-17 production by CD4+ T cells but not by CD8+ T cells. Fundamentally, pretreatment with celastrol inhibited both the IL-6 produced by F4/80+ macrophages and the IL-6 receptor on Th17 cells in the liver, which further led to the downregulated activation of STAT3, thus accounting for blocked Th17 signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Celastrol may exhibit immune regulatory effects by regulating IL-6/STAT3-IL-17 signaling in ConA-induced hepatitis, which suggested new potentials for celastrol to be applied in treating immune-mediated liver diseases.

Phosphorus-modified cobalt single-atom catalysts loaded on crosslinked carbon nanosheets for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction.

Efficient and low-cost transition metal single-atom catalysts (TMSACs) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have been recognized as research hotspots recently with advances in delivering good catalytic activity without noble metals. However, the high-cost complex preparation of TMSACs and insufficient stability limited their practical applications. Herein, a simple top-down pyrolysis approach to obtain P-modified Co SACs loaded on the crosslinked defect-rich carbon nanosheets was introduced for alkaline hydrogen evolution, where Co atoms are locally confined before pyrolysis to prevent aggregation. Thereby, the abundant defects and the unsaturated coordination formed during the pyrolysis significantly improved the stability of the monatomic structure and reduced the reaction barrier. Furthermore, the synergy between cobalt atoms and phosphorus atoms was established to optimize the decomposition process of water molecules, which delivers the key to promoting the slow reaction kinetics of alkaline HER. As the result, the cobalt SAC exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability for alkaline HER, with overpotentials of 70 mV and 192 mV at current densities of -10 mA cm-2 and -100 mA cm-2, respectively.

Competitive evolved sub-clonal BCR::ABL1 and novel MSI2::PC fusion genes in myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated del(5q).

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) represents a group of neoplasms with extensive heterogeneity. Recurrent mutations in dozens of driver genes have been identified in over 90% of MDS cases, although fusion genes are rarely seen. We first report the competitive evolved sub-clonal breakpoint cluster region (BCR)::ABL1 and novel MSI2::PC fusion gene in MDS with del(5q) in initial diagnosis that underwent dismal progression. However, the BCR::ABL1 clone vanished while the MSI2::PC clone rose to the major one with disease progression. A novel MSI2::PC fusion transcript was identified in initial diagnosis and disease progression of the patient through transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) showed MSI2::PC/ABL1 expression at initial diagnosis and disease progression. In addition, mutation screening of 300 leukemia driver genes identified ARID2 c.5046del/p.F1682Lfs*19 and ZNF292 c.4565A > G/p.Q1522R mutation in bone marrow sample at initial diagnosis and disease progression. In conclusion, the dynamic process of the two fusion and phenotype manifestations may help to understand further the molecular significance of the anomalies of BCR::ABL1, MSI2, and PC in oncogenesis.

Biglycan promotes hepatic fibrosis through activating heat shock protein 47.

BACKGROUND: Biglycan (BGN) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan that participates in the production of excess extracellular matrix (ECM) and is related to fibrosis in many organs. However, the role of BGN in liver fibrosis remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of BGN in liver fibrosis. METHODS: Human liver samples, Bgn-/0 (BGN KO) mice and a human LX-2 hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) model were applied for the study of experimental fibrosis. GEO data and single-cell RNA-seq data of human liver tissue were analysed as a bioinformatic approach. Coimmunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence staining, western blotting and qRT-PCR were conducted to identify the regulatory effects of BGN on heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) expression and liver fibrosis. RESULTS: We observed that hepatic BGN expression was significantly increased in patients with fibrosis and in a mouse model of liver fibrosis. Genetic deletion of BGN disrupted TGF-ß1 pathway signalling and alleviated liver fibrosis in mice administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ). siRNA-mediated knockdown of BGN significantly reduced TGF-ß1-induced ECM deposition and fibroblastic activation in LX-2 cells. Mechanistically, BGN directly interacted with and positively regulated the collagen synthesis chaperon protein HSP47. Rescue experiments showed that BGN promoted hepatic fibrosis by regulating ECM deposition and HSC activation by positively regulating HSP47. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that BGN promotes hepatic fibrosis by regulating ECM deposition and HSC activation through an HSP47-dependent mechanism. BGN may be a new biomarker of hepatic fibrosis and a novel target for disease prevention and treatment.

The potential bidirectional association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gallstone disease in adults: A two-cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) may act as a precipitating factor in gallstone formation, and the potential association between H. pylori infection and gallstone disease (GD) is still unclear and controversial. This study aimed to clarify the potential bidirectional relationship between H. pylori infection and GD. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed in a population that underwent health checkups at the hospital between 2013 and 2018. H. pylori infection status was evaluated by urea breath test (UBT), and GD was diagnosed via ultrasound. Cox regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used. RESULTS: Among 1011 participants without H. pylori infection at baseline, 134 participants were infected with H. pylori. Among 1192 participants without gallstones or cholecystectomy at baseline, 60 participants developed gallstones or cholecystectomy. The hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) for incident H. pylori infection comparing the GD versus the no GD group was 1.84 (1.19, 2.85). The age- and sex-adjusted HR (95% CI) for incident GD comparing H. pylori-positive subjects to H. pylori-negative subjects was 1.74 (1.01, 2.98). Consistent results were also found with PSM and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study demonstrated a potential bidirectional association between H. pylori infection and GD, which provides a basis for indicating the risk of GD and implementing the clinical strategies for GD. For the prevention and treatment of GD, H. pylori infection should be carefully considered and evaluated.

Multifaceted roles of WRKY transcription factors in abiotic stress and flavonoid biosynthesis.

Increasing biotic and abiotic stresses are seriously impeding the growth and yield of staple crops and threatening global food security. As one of the largest classes of regulators in vascular plants, WRKY transcription factors play critical roles governing flavonoid biosynthesis during stress responses. By binding major W-box cis-elements (TGACCA/T) in target promoters, WRKYs modulate diverse signaling pathways. In this review, we optimized existing WRKY phylogenetic trees by incorporating additional plant species with WRKY proteins implicated in stress tolerance and flavonoid regulation. Based on the improved frameworks and documented results, we aim to deduce unifying themes of distinct WRKY subfamilies governing specific stress responses and flavonoid metabolism. These analyses will generate experimentally testable hypotheses regarding the putative functions of uncharacterized WRKY homologs in tuning flavonoid accumulation to enhance stress resilience.

ERF subfamily transcription factors and their function in plant responses to abiotic stresses.

Ethylene Responsive Factor (ERF) subfamily comprise the largest number of proteins in the plant AP2/ERF superfamily, and have been most extensively studied on the biological functions. Members of this subfamily have been proven to regulate plant resistances to various abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, chilling and some other adversities. Under these stresses, ERFs are usually activated by mitogen-activated protein kinase induced phosphorylation or escape from ubiquitin-ligase enzymes, and then form complex with nucleic proteins before binding to cis-element in promoter regions of stress responsive genes. In this review, we will discuss the phylogenetic relationships among the ERF subfamily proteins, summarize molecular mechanism how the transcriptional activity of ERFs been regulated and how ERFs of different subgroup regulate the transcription of stress responsive genes, such as high-affinity K+ transporter gene PalHKT1;2, reactive oxygen species related genes LcLTP, LcPrx, and LcRP, flavonoids synthesis related genes FtF3H and LhMYBSPLATTER, etc. Though increasing researches demonstrate that ERFs are involved in various abiotic stresses, very few interact proteins and target genes of them have been comprehensively annotated. Hence, future research prospects are described on the mechanisms of how stress signals been transited to ERFs and how ERFs regulate the transcriptional expression of stress responsive genes.