14-3-3 proteins bind to and modulate the activity of phosphorylated proteins that regulate a variety of metabolic processes in plants. Over the past decade, interest in the plant 14-3-3 field has increased dramatically, mainly due to the vast number of mechanisms by which 14-3-3 proteins regulate metabolism. As this field develops, it is essential to understand the role of these proteins in metabolic and stress responses. This review summarizes the current knowledge about 14-3-3 proteins in plants, including their molecular structure and function, regulatory mechanism, and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and stress responses. We begin with a molecular structural analysis of 14-3-3 proteins, which describes the basic principles of 14-3-3 function, and then discuss the regulatory mechanisms and roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of 14-3-3 proteins. We conclude with a summary of the 14-3-3 response to biotic stress and abiotic stress.

Keywords: 14-3-3; function; metabolism; regulatory mechanism; stress responses.