The MYB transcription factor family: from maize to Arabidopsis

MYB proteins, endowed with a characteristic DNA binding domain, have been found in all types of eukaryotes, but are particularly prevalent in plants, as indicated by the presence of more of 200 of these proteins in Arabidopsis. The specific amplification of the MYB gene family in plants may have accompanied the evolution of complexity of plant-specific processes. Indeed, the functions of a subset of plant MYB genes indicate that, in addition to some sharing similar function with their animal counterparts, many of them are involved in developmental and metabolic pathways typical of plants, such as cell-type and organ differentiation, metabolism and responses to environmental stimuli. Here, we attempt to summarize what is known about the types and functions of MYB proteins in plants.