EIN3

UniProt ID: O24606
Organism: Arabidopsis thaliana
Review Status: COMPLETE
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Gene Description

EIN3 is a nuclear ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 family transcription factor and a central positive regulator of Arabidopsis ethylene responses. EIN3 binds ethylene-response cis-regulatory DNA elements, activates ERF1 and other early ethylene-response genes, and also participates in ethylene-dependent chromatin state through EIN2/ENAP1-dependent ethylene responses. Kinase, defense, chromatin, ascorbate, sugar, and hypoxia annotations describe regulatory inputs or downstream contexts rather than replacing the core DNA-binding transcription factor role.

Existing Annotations Review

GO Term Evidence Action Reason
GO:0005634 nucleus
IDA
PMID:9215635
Activation of the ethylene gas response pathway in Arabidops...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 is a nuclear protein.
Reason: Nuclear localization is the correct compartment for EIN3 transcriptional regulation.
GO:0003682 chromatin binding
IDA
PMID:28874528
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in th...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3 is recruited to ethylene-responsive loci in an EIN2/ENAP1 chromatin context.
Reason: Chromatin association is supported as part of ethylene transcriptional regulation, but EIN3's core molecular function is DNA-binding transcription factor activity.
GO:0003677 DNA binding
IDA
PMID:26352699
Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of DN...
MODIFY
Summary: EIN3 binds DNA, but a cis-regulatory-region binding term is more informative.
Reason: The evidence supports sequence/cis-regulatory DNA binding by a transcription factor rather than generic DNA binding.
GO:0003700 DNA-binding transcription factor activity
IDA
PMID:18466304
Ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis involves feedback regulati...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 functions as a DNA-binding transcription factor in ethylene signaling.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
Supporting Evidence:
file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md
GO:0003700 DNA-binding transcription factor activity
IDA
PMID:23795294
Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives gro...
ACCEPT
Summary: Ethylene transcriptional response studies support EIN3 transcription factor activity.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:23795294
identifying targets of the master regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway, ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3), using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing
GO:0003700 DNA-binding transcription factor activity
IDA
PMID:9851977
Nuclear events in ethylene signaling: a transcriptional casc...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 directly regulates ethylene-response transcription.
Reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
GO:0042393 histone binding
IDA
PMID:28874528
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in th...
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED
Summary: The histone-binding evidence is strongest for ENAP1/EIN2-associated machinery, not direct EIN3 histone binding.
Reason: EIN3 contributes to ethylene transcriptional activation at chromatin, but the cached evidence does not show EIN3 itself as the direct histone-binding protein.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:27694846
Although up-regulation of histone acetylation in response to ethylene is not EIN3/EIL1 dependent, transcription activation in the presence of ethylene is fully EIN3/EIL1 dependent.
GO:0019900 kinase binding
IPI
PMID:28600557
Regulatory Functions of Cellular Energy Sensor SNF1-Related ...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3 binds the energy-sensor kinase KIN10, which regulates EIN3 stability.
Reason: Kinase binding is a regulatory input to EIN3 rather than EIN3's core transcriptional activity.
GO:0000976 transcription cis-regulatory region binding
IDA
PMID:26134166
Ethylene Regulates the Arabidopsis Microtubule-Associated Pr...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 binds cis-regulatory DNA at EIN3-regulated promoters such as WDL5.
Reason: This is a specific molecular description of EIN3's transcription factor role.
GO:0042742 defense response to bacterium
IGI
PMID:19717619
ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 repres...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3/EIL1 modulate salicylic-acid-dependent bacterial defense outputs.
Reason: Defense response is a downstream signaling context, not the primary EIN3 molecular function.
GO:0040029 epigenetic regulation of gene expression
IMP
PMID:28874528
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in th...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3/EIL1 are required for transcriptional activation in the EIN2/ENAP1 histone-acetylation response.
Reason: The epigenetic response is an important chromatin context for EIN3 target activation, but the direct histone-acetylation mechanism is mediated mainly by EIN2/ENAP1-associated machinery.
GO:0009873 ethylene-activated signaling pathway
IMP
PMID:28874528
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in th...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 is a central positive regulator of ethylene signaling.
Reason: Ethylene-activated signaling is the core biological pathway in which EIN3 functions.
GO:0006355 regulation of DNA-templated transcription
TAS
PMID:9851977
Nuclear events in ethylene signaling: a transcriptional casc...
ACCEPT
Summary: EIN3 regulates transcription of ethylene-responsive genes.
Reason: This is an appropriate biological-process level annotation for the transcription factor role.
GO:2000082 regulation of L-ascorbic acid biosynthetic process
IEP
PMID:30723177
Ascorbic Acid Integrates the Antagonistic Modulation of Ethy...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3 affects ascorbic-acid biology through hormone and ROS response networks.
Reason: This is a downstream physiological output rather than the core ethylene transcription factor function.
GO:0009723 response to ethylene
IMP
PMID:19717619
ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 repres...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3 loss and regulation alter ethylene response phenotypes.
Reason: The response term is correct but less informative than ethylene-activated signaling and transcriptional regulation.
GO:0001666 response to hypoxia
IMP
PMID:25284079
Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP3 participates in p...
KEEP AS NON CORE
Summary: EIN3 is stabilized or engaged during hypoxia/submergence-related ethylene signaling.
Reason: Hypoxia/submergence studies support EIN3 stabilization through ceramide-CTR1 ethylene signaling, but this is a stress context rather than the central EIN3 transcription factor function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25822663
stabilization of EIN3-GFP in vivo, suggests a role of ceramides in modulating CTR1-mediated ethylene signaling
GO:0010182 sugar mediated signaling pathway
TAS
PMID:12663220
Sugar and hormone connections.
UNDECIDED
Summary: Sugar-hormone cross-talk is relevant to ethylene signaling, but the cached PMID:12663220 abstract does not verify an EIN3-specific annotation.
Reason: The cached PMID:12663220 entry is abstract-only and discusses sugar, ABA, and ethylene signaling generally without naming EIN3, so UNDECIDED is more appropriate than REMOVE until full-text evidence is available.

Core Functions

Nuclear DNA-binding transcription factor activity in the ethylene pathway, including binding ethylene-response cis-regulatory elements and activating transcription of primary ethylene-response genes such as ERF1.

Supporting Evidence:
  • file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
    Transcription factor acting as a positive regulator in the
  • file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
    Binds DNA (PubMed:26352699).
  • PMID:9851977
    EIN3 and EILs comprise a family of novel sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins
  • file:interpro/panther/PTHR33305/PTHR33305-entries.csv
    O24606,Protein ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3

References

Sugar and hormone connections.
Dual control of nuclear EIN3 by bifurcate MAPK cascades in C2H4 signalling.
Ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis involves feedback regulation via the elaborate control of EBF2 expression by EIN3.
ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 repress SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2 expression to negatively regulate plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis.
Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in Arabidopsis.
Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP3 participates in plant response to hypoxia by modulating very-long-chain fatty acid metabolism.
Unsaturation of very-long-chain ceramides protects plant from hypoxia-induced damages by modulating ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis.
Ethylene Regulates the Arabidopsis Microtubule-Associated Protein WAVE-DAMPENED2-LIKE5 in Etiolated Hypocotyl Elongation.
Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of DNA Recognition by Arabidopsis ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3.
EIN2-dependent regulation of acetylation of histone H3K14 and non-canonical histone H3K23 in ethylene signalling.
  • EIN2-dependent H3K14/H3K23 acetylation provides chromatin context for EIN3/EIL1-dependent ethylene transcriptional activation, but does not establish direct EIN3 histone binding.
Regulatory Functions of Cellular Energy Sensor SNF1-Related Kinase1 for Leaf Senescence Delay through ETHYLENE- INSENSITIVE3 Repression.
EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in the ethylene response.
Ascorbic Acid Integrates the Antagonistic Modulation of Ethylene and Abscisic Acid in the Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species.
Activation of the ethylene gas response pathway in Arabidopsis by the nuclear protein ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 and related proteins.
Nuclear events in ethylene signaling: a transcriptional cascade mediated by ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE-RESPONSE-FACTOR1.
file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
UniProt record for Arabidopsis EIN3
  • EIN3 is described as a nuclear transcription factor in ethylene signaling.
file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md
Falcon deep research report for Arabidopsis EIN3
  • Falcon research supports EIN3 as a nuclear ethylene-pathway transcription factor whose core role is DNA binding and transcriptional regulation.
file:interpro/panther/PTHR33305/PTHR33305-entries.csv
PANTHER PTHR33305 entries
  • EIN3 is placed in subfamily PTHR33305:SF11, protein ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3.

Suggested Questions for Experts

Q: Which EIN3 chromatin-binding annotations should be represented directly versus as part of EIN2/ENAP1-mediated histone acetylation?

Q: Should kinase-binding annotations for KIN10/MPK inputs remain on EIN3 or be captured only in pathway models?

Suggested Experiments

Experiment: Combine native EIN3 ChIP-seq with rapid ethylene treatment and ein2/enap1 perturbation to distinguish direct DNA-binding targets from chromatin-state effects.

Experiment: Quantitatively test KIN10, MPK3, and MPK6 effects on EIN3 target occupancy and transcriptional activation.

Deep Research

Falcon

(EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md)
this with annotations you find in gene/protein databases, but these can be outdated or inaccurate. Falcon Edison Scientific Literature 52 citations 2026-05-07T08:36:38.269548

The research report should be a detailed narrative explaining the function, biological processes, and localization of the gene product. Citations should be given for all claims.

You should prioritize authoritative reviews and primary scientific literature when conducting research. You can supplement
this with annotations you find in gene/protein databases, but these can be outdated or inaccurate.

We are specifically interested in the primary function of the gene - for enzymes, what reaction is catalyzed, and what is the substrate specificity? For transporters, what is the substrate? For structural proteins or adapters, what is the broader structural role? For signaling molecules, what is the role in the pathway.

We are interested in where in or outside the cell the gene product carries out its function.

We are also interested in the signaling or biochemical pathways in which the gene functions. We are less interested in broad pleiotropic effects, except where these elucidate the precise role.

Include evidence where possible. We are interested in both experimental evidence as well as inference from structure, evolution, or bioinformatic analysis. Precise studies should be prioritized over high-throughput, where available.

Research report: Functional annotation of ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) in Arabidopsis thaliana

Target identity verification (critical)

The target protein is EIN3 (UniProt O24606), encoded by Arabidopsis thaliana locus At3g20770. Multiple sources explicitly map EIN3 to At3g20770 and describe it as a plant-specific, nuclear transcription factor and core member of the EIN3/EIL family central to ethylene signaling, matching the UniProt context and domains. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2, chen2005ethylenesignaltransduction. pages 1-2)

Executive summary

EIN3 is the master transcription factor at the end of the canonical ethylene signal transduction pathway. Its primary biochemical “activity” is sequence-specific DNA binding (as a homodimer) and transcriptional regulation of ethylene-responsive genes. The dominant regulatory principle is post-translational: in air (no ethylene), EIN3 is rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin–26S proteasome system via SCF complexes containing the F-box proteins EBF1/EBF2; upon ethylene perception, EIN3 is stabilized and accumulates in the nucleus, enabling downstream transcriptional cascades (e.g., ERF1) and feedback control (e.g., induction of EBF2). (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5, stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2)


1) Key concepts, definitions, and current mechanistic understanding

1.1 What EIN3 is

EIN3 (ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3) is a nuclear-localized transcription factor required for normal ethylene responses in Arabidopsis. In the canonical pathway, ethylene perception by ER-localized receptors and inactivation of the Raf-like kinase CTR1 relieves repression of EIN2, which then enables activation/accumulation of EIN3/EIL transcription factors that drive ethylene-responsive gene expression. (stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2, etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2, chen2005ethylenesignaltransduction. pages 1-2)

1.2 Where EIN3 acts (subcellular localization)

EIN3 functions in the nucleus. Primary evidence from the foundational mechanistic study shows ethylene/ACC promotes nuclear accumulation of a functional EIN3–GFP fusion detectable after ~1 h and persisting at least 4 h; proteasome inhibition (MG132) can also drive nuclear accumulation without ethylene, consistent with stability control being central. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5)

1.3 Molecular function: DNA binding and transcriptional control

DNA binding and transcriptional regulation constitute EIN3’s core function.

Domain architecture and binding mode:
- Reviews and structural work map an EIN3 DNA-binding region (DBD) to aa 80–359 (review) with refined boundaries of aa 82–352 (optimal) and a core DBD aa 174–306 (crystallized; PDB reported in the primary paper). (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2)
- EIN3 binds DNA as a homodimer, and high-affinity binding is favored by two inverted EIN3-binding sites. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7)

Cis-element recognition:
- Genome-wide analysis shows enrichment of a consensus EIN3 motif (often referred to as TEIL motif) in EIN3 binding regions. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- A recent synthetic-promoter study reports a canonical Arabidopsis EIN3/EIL binding site (EBS) as ATGTAT, and emphasizes promoter-configuration dependence of EIN3 binding/activation. (fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3)

1.4 Central regulatory principle: EIN3 stability is the output of upstream signaling

A defining concept for EIN3 is that ethylene signaling largely controls ethylene responses by controlling EIN3 protein abundance (stability/turnover), rather than by strongly changing EIN3 transcription.

SCF(EBF1/EBF2)-proteasome pathway:
- In the absence of ethylene, EIN3 is short-lived and is degraded through a ubiquitin/proteasome pathway mediated by the F-box proteins EBF1 and EBF2 (SCF complexes). (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8)
- Quantitatively, EIN3 half-life in air is reported as < 30 min. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8)
- Ethylene stabilizes EIN3 by inhibiting its proteolysis; proteasome inhibitors (MG132/MG115) rapidly increase EIN3 protein, supporting proteasome dependence. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5)

Upstream dependencies (core pathway requirement):
Ethylene-induced EIN3 accumulation requires multiple upstream ethylene-pathway components, including ETR1, EIN4, CTR1, EIN2, EIN5, and EIN6, anchoring EIN3 unambiguously within the canonical receptor→CTR1→EIN2 axis. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8)

Phenotypic consequences of altering EIN3 stability:
- Mutations in either ebf1 or ebf2 stabilize EIN3 and increase ethylene sensitivity; ebf1 ebf2 double mutants show constitutive ethylene phenotypes (ctr1-like), while overexpressing EBF1/EBF2 destabilizes EIN3 and causes ethylene insensitivity. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 5-7)


2) Recent developments and latest research (prioritizing 2023–2024)

2.1 2024: Post-transcriptional control of the EBF→EIN3 stability module via DNE1

A 2024 study identifies DNE1 (an endoribonuclease induced by ethylene) as a positive regulator of ethylene responses that acts by modulating the EBF1/2 mRNA layer. DNE1:
- Colocalizes with EIN2 at processing bodies (P-bodies) in response to ethylene.
- Recognizes and cleaves EBF1/2 3′UTRs, reducing EBF1/2 mRNA abundance and repressing their translation.
- Loss-of-function dne1 mutants show mild ethylene insensitivity and stress-related phenotypes (e.g., ER/oxidative stress sensitivity), connecting RNA processing to ethylene sensitivity through control of EBF1/2 and thus EIN3 stability. (yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2)

This expands the canonical view (protein degradation only) into a multi-layer model in which RNA processing and translational repression tune the EIN3-stability “rheostat” through EBF1/2. (yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2)

2.2 2023–2024: Crosstalk framing—EIN3 as a hub integrating ethylene with other hormone/stress pathways

Recent reviews emphasize EIN3/EIL1 as hubs connecting ethylene to other signaling networks (not limited to developmental “pleiotropy,” but through mechanistic modulation of the EIN3 stability/targeting system):
- A 2023 review highlights the ethylene–jasmonate network, positioning EIN3/EIL1 and JA regulators as key nodes and noting involvement of the canonical EIN2→EBF1/2→EIN3 logic in stress-associated transcriptional programs. (aragonraygoza2025diverserolesof pages 3-4)
- A 2024 developmental review reiterates context-dependent EIN3/EIL1 regulation and documents ethylene pathway mutant phenotypes that reflect hormonal interaction (e.g., altered ABA sensitivities across ethylene mutants), consistent with EIN3/EIL1 functioning as a transcriptional “range setter” depending on tissue and environment. (khan2024roleofethylene pages 1-2)

2.3 2024: Ethylene-independent functions of ethylene pathway components (including EIN2/EIN3) in specific contexts

A 2024 fruit-focused review synthesizes evidence that ethylene pathway components—specifically ACC, EIN2, and EIN3—can have ethylene-independent functions under particular conditions, and stresses that dosage dependence and tissue/stage specificity complicate inference from partial pathway mutants. While not Arabidopsis-centric, this is relevant for interpreting EIN3 phenotypes and designing functional studies. (huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2)


3) Current applications and real-world implementations

3.1 Ethylene pathway monitoring and synthetic biology: EIN3-binding-site reporters

A clear real-world implementation of EIN3 biology is the creation of synthetic transcriptional reporters based on EIN3 binding sites. A synthetic promoter called EBSn (EIN3 binding-site new) leverages arrays of EIN3-binding elements and is reported to:
- Outperform older EIN3-binding-site reporters in ethylene sensitivity.
- Monitor endogenous ethylene levels with more ubiquitous expression under exogenous ethylene.
- Function in both Arabidopsis and tomato, indicating cross-species utility for phenotyping and engineering ethylene-regulated traits. (fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3)

3.2 Translational relevance to horticulture and trait genetics

In fruit crops, ethylene signaling components are linked to breeding-relevant traits; for example, a 2024 review notes a GWAS identifying SlEIN4 (ethylene receptor) as a determinant of tomato fruit firmness, illustrating how ethylene signaling genetics (upstream of EIN3 outputs) is already leveraged in trait association and improvement contexts. (huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2)


4) Expert opinions and analysis from authoritative sources

4.1 Authoritative consensus: EIN3 stabilization is the key control point

Authoritative reviews from 2005–2006 articulate the central model that ethylene signaling culminates in EIN3/EIL transcription factors whose abundance is controlled by proteasomal degradation via EBF1/2, thereby making EIN3 stability a major “valve” controlling response strength. (stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2, etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2)

4.2 Systems-level view: EIN3 binds broadly, but only a subset of binding is regulatory

Genome-wide binding and transcriptome time courses support the view that EIN3 is a broad chromatin-binding factor whose binding is context dependent: only a minority of binding events correlate with transcriptional change, implying cofactor/chromatin constraints and promoter architecture govern which EIN3-bound sites are productive. This is consistent with newer synthetic-promoter interpretations that configuration/accessibility strongly influence EIN3 outputs. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3, fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3)


5) Statistics and data points from key studies

5.1 Kinetics and stability (protein-level)

  • EIN3 half-life in air: <30 minutes. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8)
  • Nuclear accumulation of EIN3-GFP after ACC: detectable after ~1 hour, persisting at least 4 hours. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5)
  • EIN3 protein becomes detectable by ~1 hour of ethylene treatment and correlates with triple-response severity in the foundational study. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3)

5.2 Genome-wide binding and transcriptional cascade statistics (Chang et al., 2013)

ChIP-seq and time-course transcriptomics define the direct and indirect transcriptional reach of EIN3:
- 1,460 EIN3 binding regions associated with 1,314 genes. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- Only ~30% of EIN3 binding sites associated with transcriptional change under tested conditions. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- Among ethylene-regulated EIN3 targets, 85% induced (activator-dominant behavior). (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- ~14% of EIN3-regulated targets were transcription factors, consistent with cascade amplification. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- Ethylene transcriptional response organized into 4 temporal waves under EIN3 control. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)

5.3 Explicit feedback wiring

  • The EBF2 promoter contains 3 EIN3 binding sites, and EBF2 mediates EIN3 proteolysis (negative feedback). (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 13-14, chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)

Pathway schematic evidence

A recent review provides a schematic of the ethylene signaling pathway highlighting EIN2-CEND movement to nucleus and P-bodies, suppression of EBF1/2, and stabilization/accumulation of EIN3/EIL1.

(hao2025ethylenesignalingin media e307761f)


Consolidated evidence table

Aspect Key finding Evidence source with publication year, DOI URL
Identity Arabidopsis thaliana EIN3 is the ethylene-response transcription factor encoded by locus At3g20770 (UniProt O24606), a core member of the EIN3/EIL family acting downstream of EIN2 in canonical ethylene signaling. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2, chen2005ethylenesignaltransduction. pages 1-2) Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015; Stepanova & Alonso, 2005, https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4; Chen et al., 2005, https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci100
Molecular function EIN3 is a nuclear transcription factor that converts ethylene signaling into transcriptional outputs, primarily activating downstream genes such as ERF1 and broader transcriptional cascades. (stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2, etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2, song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 18-19) Stepanova & Alonso, 2005, https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4; Etheridge et al., 2006, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2; Song et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439
DNA-binding motif Genome-wide and synthetic-promoter studies support EIN3/EIL recognition of the TEIL/EBS motif, with the canonical Arabidopsis EBS reported as ATGTAT; high-affinity binding is favored by two inverted EIN3-binding sites. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3, fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3) Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015; Chang et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675; Fernandez-Moreno et al., 2026, https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70302
Domain boundaries Structural work mapped an optimal EIN3 DNA-binding region to aa 82-352 and a core DNA-binding domain to aa 174-306; a review further summarizes a DBD at aa 80-359, a dimerization domain at aa 113-257, and a C-terminal regulatory region. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2) Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015; Song et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439
Localization EIN3 is nucleus-localized, and ethylene or ACC causes nuclear accumulation detectable by ~1 h and persisting for at least 4 h; MG132 also drives rapid nuclear accumulation without ethylene. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5, benavente2006molecularmechanismsof pages 4-6, hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7) Guo & Ecker, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00969-3; Benavente & Alonso, 2006, https://doi.org/10.1039/b513874d; Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015
Upstream regulators EIN3 accumulation requires upstream ethylene signaling components including ETR1, EIN4, CTR1, EIN2, EIN5, and EIN6; pathway order is receptors -> CTR1 -> EIN2 -> EIN3. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3, hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 5-6) Guo & Ecker, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00969-3; Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015
Negative regulators In air, EIN3 is a short-lived protein with half-life <30 min, degraded by SCF ubiquitin ligases containing the F-box proteins EBF1 and EBF2; proteasome inhibitors MG132/MG115 rapidly increase EIN3 levels. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3, guo2003plantresponsesto pages 5-7) Guo & Ecker, 2003, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00969-3
Feedback EIN3 directly activates EBF2 transcription, generating a negative-feedback loop; the EBF2 promoter contains 3 EIN3 binding sites, and both EBF1/2 are ethylene inducible, with EBF2 more strongly induced. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7, chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 12-13, chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3) Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015; Chang et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675
Genome-wide targets/statistics ChIP-seq identified 1,460 EIN3 binding regions associated with 1,314 genes; ~30% of binding events correlated with transcriptional change, 85% of EIN3-regulated targets were induced, and ~14% were transcription factors, organized into 4 temporal waves. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3, chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 12-13) Chang et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675
Physiological roles / direct targets Beyond ERF1, EIN3 directly regulates targets involved in immunity and development, including FLS2, and is implicated in senescence-associated networks such as ORE1; EIN3/EIL1 also mediate salinity tolerance through direct regulation of stress genes. (song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 18-19, song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2) Song et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439; Boutrot et al., 2010, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1003347107
Crosstalk & stress roles EIN3 integrates hormone and stress crosstalk: salt and cold can stabilize EIN3 through EBF1/2 degradation, glucose promotes EIN3 degradation, JA/MYC2 can enhance EBF1 expression and repress EIN3 outputs, and BR/BZR1 can reduce EBF1/2, altering EIN3 stability. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 9-10, hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 8-9, yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2) Hao et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015; Yan et al., 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138
Recent developments (2023-2024) Recent work shows additional post-transcriptional control of the EIN3 module: DNE1 cleaves EBF1/2 3'UTRs and represses their translation, linking P-body RNA processing to ethylene responsiveness and stress tolerance; recent reviews also emphasize ethylene-independent functions of EIN2/EIN3 pathway components in some contexts. (yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2, huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2) Yan et al., 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138; Huang et al., 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae229
Applications / implementations EIN3-binding logic has been translated into practical tools: a synthetic EBSn reporter built from tandem EIN3-binding sites provides more sensitive monitoring of endogenous ethylene responses in Arabidopsis and functions in tomato, illustrating utility for signaling assays and crop biotechnology. (fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3) Fernandez-Moreno et al., 2026, https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70302

Table: This table summarizes the functional annotation of Arabidopsis EIN3 (At3g20770; UniProt O24606), including mechanism, regulation, localization, genome-scale data, and recent developments. It is useful as a compact evidence-backed reference for pathway-centered gene annotation.


References (URLs and publication dates)

The most central sources used here include:
- Guo H, Ecker JR. Plant Responses to Ethylene Gas Are Mediated by SCF^EBF1/EBF2-Dependent Proteolysis of EIN3 Transcription Factor. Cell. Dec 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03)00969-3 (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2)
- Chen Y-F, Etheridge N, Schaller GE. Ethylene signal transduction. Annals of Botany. May 2005. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci100 (chen2005ethylenesignaltransduction. pages 1-2)
- Stepanova AN, Alonso JM. Arabidopsis Ethylene Signaling Pathway. Science’s STKE. Mar 2005. https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4 (stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2)
- Etheridge N, Hall BP, Schaller GE. Progress report: ethylene signaling and responses. Planta. Feb 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2 (etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2)
- Chang KN et al. Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in Arabidopsis. eLife. Jun 2013. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675 (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3)
- Song J et al. Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of DNA Recognition by Arabidopsis ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3. PLOS ONE. Sep 2015. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439 (song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2)
- Yan Y et al. Endoribonuclease DNE1 Promotes Ethylene Response by Modulating EBF1/2 mRNA Processing in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci. Feb 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138 (yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2)
- Huang W et al. Ethylene in fruits: beyond ripening control. Horticulture Research. Aug 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae229 (huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2)
- Khan S et al. Role of Ethylene in the Regulation of Plant Developmental Processes. Stresses. Jan 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses4010003 (khan2024roleofethylene pages 1-2)

References

  1. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7): Dongdong Hao, Wenyang Li, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene signaling in <i>arabidopsis</i>: a journey from historical discoveries to modern insights. Plant Hormones, 1:0-0, Jan 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015, doi:10.48130/ph-0025-0015. This article has 9 citations.

  2. (stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2): Anna N. Stepanova and Jose M. Alonso. Arabidopsis ethylene signaling pathway. Science's STKE, 2005:cm4-cm4, Mar 2005. URL: https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4, doi:10.1126/stke.2762005cm4. This article has 73 citations.

  3. (chen2005ethylenesignaltransduction. pages 1-2): YI-FENG CHEN, NAOMI ETHERIDGE, and G. ERIC SCHALLER. Ethylene signal transduction. Annals of botany, 95 6:901-15, May 2005. URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci100, doi:10.1093/aob/mci100. This article has 579 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  4. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8): Hongwei Guo and Joseph R Ecker. Plant responses to ethylene gas are mediated by scfebf1/ebf2-dependent proteolysis of ein3 transcription factor. Cell, 115:667-677, Dec 2003. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3, doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3. This article has 1147 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  5. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5): Hongwei Guo and Joseph R Ecker. Plant responses to ethylene gas are mediated by scfebf1/ebf2-dependent proteolysis of ein3 transcription factor. Cell, 115:667-677, Dec 2003. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3, doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3. This article has 1147 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  6. (etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2): Naomi Etheridge, Brenda Parson Hall, and G Eric Schaller. Progress report: ethylene signaling and responses. Planta, 223:387-391, Feb 2006. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2, doi:10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2. This article has 56 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.

  7. (song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2): Jinghui Song, Chenxu Zhu, Xing Zhang, Xing Wen, Lulu Liu, Jinying Peng, Hongwei Guo, and Chengqi Yi. Biochemical and structural insights into the mechanism of dna recognition by arabidopsis ethylene insensitive3. PLoS ONE, 10:e0137439, Sep 2015. URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137439. This article has 44 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.

  8. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3): Katherine Noelani Chang, Shan Zhong, Matthew T Weirauch, Gary Hon, Mattia Pelizzola, Hai Li, Shao-shan Carol Huang, Robert J Schmitz, Mark A Urich, Dwight Kuo, Joseph R Nery, Hong Qiao, Ally Yang, Abdullah Jamali, Huaming Chen, Trey Ideker, Bing Ren, Ziv Bar-Joseph, Timothy R Hughes, and Joseph R Ecker. Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in arabidopsis. eLife, Jun 2013. URL: https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.00675, doi:10.7554/elife.00675. This article has 469 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  9. (fernandez‐moreno2026ebsna pages 2-3): Josefina‐Patricia Fernandez‐Moreno, Mario Fenech, Anna E. Yaschenko, Chengsong Zhao, Matthew Neubauer, Hannah N. Davis, Alex J. Marchi, Raine Concannon, Alexandra Keren‐Keiserman, Moshe Reuveni, Victor Levitsky, Dmitry Oshchepkov, Vladislav Dolgikh, Alexander Goldshmidt, José T. Ascencio‐Ibáñez, Elena Zemlyanskaya, Jose M. Alonso, and Anna N. Stepanova. ebsn , a robust synthetic reporter for monitoring ethylene responses in plants. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 24:698-716, Sep 2026. URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70302, doi:10.1111/pbi.70302. This article has 4 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  10. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2): Hongwei Guo and Joseph R Ecker. Plant responses to ethylene gas are mediated by scfebf1/ebf2-dependent proteolysis of ein3 transcription factor. Cell, 115:667-677, Dec 2003. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3, doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3. This article has 1147 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  11. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3): Hongwei Guo and Joseph R Ecker. Plant responses to ethylene gas are mediated by scfebf1/ebf2-dependent proteolysis of ein3 transcription factor. Cell, 115:667-677, Dec 2003. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3, doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3. This article has 1147 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  12. (guo2003plantresponsesto pages 5-7): Hongwei Guo and Joseph R Ecker. Plant responses to ethylene gas are mediated by scfebf1/ebf2-dependent proteolysis of ein3 transcription factor. Cell, 115:667-677, Dec 2003. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3, doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00969-3. This article has 1147 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.

  13. (yan2024endoribonucleasedne1promotes pages 1-2): Yan Yan, Hongwei Guo, and Wenyang Li. Endoribonuclease dne1 promotes ethylene response by modulating ebf1/2 mrna processing in arabidopsis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25:2138, Feb 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138, doi:10.3390/ijms25042138. This article has 4 citations.

  14. (aragonraygoza2025diverserolesof pages 3-4): Alejandro Aragón-Raygoza and Josh Strable. Diverse roles of ethylene in maize growth and development, and its importance in shaping plant architecture. Journal of Experimental Botany, 76:1854-1865, Feb 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf062, doi:10.1093/jxb/eraf062. This article has 10 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  15. (khan2024roleofethylene pages 1-2): Sheen Khan, Ameena Fatima Alvi, and Nafees A. Khan. Role of ethylene in the regulation of plant developmental processes. Stresses, 4:28-53, Jan 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses4010003, doi:10.3390/stresses4010003. This article has 55 citations.

  16. (huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2): Wei Huang, Cong Tan, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene in fruits: beyond ripening control. Horticulture Research, Aug 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae229, doi:10.1093/hr/uhae229. This article has 18 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  17. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 13-14): Katherine Noelani Chang, Shan Zhong, Matthew T Weirauch, Gary Hon, Mattia Pelizzola, Hai Li, Shao-shan Carol Huang, Robert J Schmitz, Mark A Urich, Dwight Kuo, Joseph R Nery, Hong Qiao, Ally Yang, Abdullah Jamali, Huaming Chen, Trey Ideker, Bing Ren, Ziv Bar-Joseph, Timothy R Hughes, and Joseph R Ecker. Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in arabidopsis. eLife, Jun 2013. URL: https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.00675, doi:10.7554/elife.00675. This article has 469 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  18. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin media e307761f): Dongdong Hao, Wenyang Li, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene signaling in <i>arabidopsis</i>: a journey from historical discoveries to modern insights. Plant Hormones, 1:0-0, Jan 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015, doi:10.48130/ph-0025-0015. This article has 9 citations.

  19. (song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 18-19): Jinghui Song, Chenxu Zhu, Xing Zhang, Xing Wen, Lulu Liu, Jinying Peng, Hongwei Guo, and Chengqi Yi. Biochemical and structural insights into the mechanism of dna recognition by arabidopsis ethylene insensitive3. PLoS ONE, 10:e0137439, Sep 2015. URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0137439. This article has 44 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.

  20. (benavente2006molecularmechanismsof pages 4-6): Larissa M. Benavente and Jose M. Alonso. Molecular mechanisms of ethylene signaling in arabidopsis. Molecular bioSystems, 2 3-4:165-73, Mar 2006. URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/b513874d, doi:10.1039/b513874d. This article has 108 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.

  21. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 5-6): Dongdong Hao, Wenyang Li, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene signaling in <i>arabidopsis</i>: a journey from historical discoveries to modern insights. Plant Hormones, 1:0-0, Jan 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015, doi:10.48130/ph-0025-0015. This article has 9 citations.

  22. (chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 12-13): Katherine Noelani Chang, Shan Zhong, Matthew T Weirauch, Gary Hon, Mattia Pelizzola, Hai Li, Shao-shan Carol Huang, Robert J Schmitz, Mark A Urich, Dwight Kuo, Joseph R Nery, Hong Qiao, Ally Yang, Abdullah Jamali, Huaming Chen, Trey Ideker, Bing Ren, Ziv Bar-Joseph, Timothy R Hughes, and Joseph R Ecker. Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in arabidopsis. eLife, Jun 2013. URL: https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.00675, doi:10.7554/elife.00675. This article has 469 citations and is from a domain leading peer-reviewed journal.

  23. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 9-10): Dongdong Hao, Wenyang Li, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene signaling in <i>arabidopsis</i>: a journey from historical discoveries to modern insights. Plant Hormones, 1:0-0, Jan 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015, doi:10.48130/ph-0025-0015. This article has 9 citations.

  24. (hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 8-9): Dongdong Hao, Wenyang Li, and Hongwei Guo. Ethylene signaling in <i>arabidopsis</i>: a journey from historical discoveries to modern insights. Plant Hormones, 1:0-0, Jan 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015, doi:10.48130/ph-0025-0015. This article has 9 citations.

Citations

  1. guo2003plantresponsesto pages 3-5
  2. hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 6-7
  3. chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 2-3
  4. guo2003plantresponsesto pages 7-8
  5. aragonraygoza2025diverserolesof pages 3-4
  6. khan2024roleofethylene pages 1-2
  7. huang2024ethyleneinfruits pages 1-2
  8. guo2003plantresponsesto pages 2-3
  9. guo2003plantresponsesto pages 1-2
  10. stepanova2005arabidopsisethylenesignaling pages 1-2
  11. etheridge2006progressreportethylene pages 1-2
  12. song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 1-2
  13. guo2003plantresponsesto pages 5-7
  14. chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 13-14
  15. song2015biochemicalandstructural pages 18-19
  16. benavente2006molecularmechanismsof pages 4-6
  17. hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 5-6
  18. chang2013temporaltranscriptionalresponse pages 12-13
  19. hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 9-10
  20. hao2025ethylenesignalingin pages 8-9
  21. https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015;
  22. https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4;
  23. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci100
  24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2;
  25. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439
  26. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675;
  27. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70302
  28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(03
  29. https://doi.org/10.1039/b513874d;
  30. https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015
  31. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00675
  32. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439;
  33. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1003347107
  34. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138
  35. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138;
  36. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae229
  37. https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4
  38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2
  39. https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses4010003
  40. https://doi.org/10.48130/ph-0025-0015,
  41. https://doi.org/10.1126/stke.2762005cm4,
  42. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci100,
  43. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0092-8674(03
  44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-005-0163-2,
  45. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137439,
  46. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.00675,
  47. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70302,
  48. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042138,
  49. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraf062,
  50. https://doi.org/10.3390/stresses4010003,
  51. https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae229,
  52. https://doi.org/10.1039/b513874d,

📚 Additional Documentation

Notes

(EIN3-notes.md)

EIN3 review notes

Deep research provider status, 2026-05-06: Falcon timed out on CTR1 and the batch run was stopped before repeated timeouts; Perplexity returned 401 insufficient_quota; OpenAI timed out on CTR1. I reviewed EIN3 manually from UniProt, cached publications, and PANTHER family context.

QuickGO annotation/search returned HTTP 500 for this accession on 2026-05-06, including with a UniProtKB: prefix. The GOA TSV in this branch was populated from UniProtKB REST GO cross-references so the existing-annotation validator has PMID/GO_REF provenance rather than treating known annotations as new.

Core interpretation: EIN3 is a nuclear ethylene-pathway transcription factor. It binds ethylene-response cis-regulatory elements and activates ERF1 and other ethylene-responsive transcriptional programs [PMID:9215635; PMID:9851977; PMID:26352699]. EIN3 also participates in ethylene-dependent chromatin/histone acetylation through ENAP1/EIN2-related signaling [PMID:27694846; PMID:28874528]. Defense, hypoxia, sugar, ascorbate, and kinase-binding annotations are contextual outputs or regulation rather than the central evolved function.

Falcon retry status, 2026-05-07: Falcon deep research completed in EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md. The report supports the existing review conclusion that EIN3 is a nuclear ethylene-response DNA-binding transcription factor, with defense, stress, chromatin, and regulatory effects treated as contextual outputs or inputs.

📄 View Raw YAML

id: O24606
gene_symbol: EIN3
product_type: PROTEIN
status: COMPLETE
taxon:
  id: NCBITaxon:3702
  label: Arabidopsis thaliana
description: >-
  EIN3 is a nuclear ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 family transcription factor and a
  central positive regulator of Arabidopsis ethylene responses. EIN3 binds
  ethylene-response cis-regulatory DNA elements, activates ERF1 and other early
  ethylene-response genes, and also participates in ethylene-dependent
  chromatin state through EIN2/ENAP1-dependent ethylene responses. Kinase,
  defense, chromatin, ascorbate, sugar, and hypoxia annotations describe
  regulatory inputs or downstream contexts rather than replacing the core
  DNA-binding transcription factor role.
existing_annotations:
- term:
    id: GO:0005634
    label: nucleus
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:9215635
  review:
    summary: EIN3 is a nuclear protein.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: Nuclear localization is the correct compartment for EIN3 transcriptional regulation.
- term:
    id: GO:0003682
    label: chromatin binding
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:28874528
  review:
    summary: EIN3 is recruited to ethylene-responsive loci in an EIN2/ENAP1 chromatin context.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: Chromatin association is supported as part of ethylene transcriptional regulation, but EIN3's core molecular function is DNA-binding transcription factor activity.
- term:
    id: GO:0003677
    label: DNA binding
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:26352699
  review:
    summary: EIN3 binds DNA, but a cis-regulatory-region binding term is more informative.
    action: MODIFY
    reason: The evidence supports sequence/cis-regulatory DNA binding by a transcription factor rather than generic DNA binding.
    proposed_replacement_terms:
    - id: GO:0000976
      label: transcription cis-regulatory region binding
- term:
    id: GO:0003700
    label: DNA-binding transcription factor activity
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:18466304
  review:
    summary: EIN3 functions as a DNA-binding transcription factor in ethylene signaling.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md
- term:
    id: GO:0003700
    label: DNA-binding transcription factor activity
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:23795294
  review:
    summary: Ethylene transcriptional response studies support EIN3 transcription factor activity.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: PMID:23795294
      supporting_text: identifying targets of the master regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway, ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3), using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing
- term:
    id: GO:0003700
    label: DNA-binding transcription factor activity
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:9851977
  review:
    summary: EIN3 directly regulates ethylene-response transcription.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: This is the core molecular function of EIN3.
- term:
    id: GO:0042393
    label: histone binding
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:28874528
  review:
    summary: The histone-binding evidence is strongest for ENAP1/EIN2-associated machinery, not direct EIN3 histone binding.
    action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
    reason: EIN3 contributes to ethylene transcriptional activation at chromatin, but the cached evidence does not show EIN3 itself as the direct histone-binding protein.
    additional_reference_ids:
    - PMID:27694846
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: PMID:27694846
      supporting_text: Although up-regulation of histone acetylation in response to ethylene is not
        EIN3/EIL1 dependent, transcription activation in the presence of ethylene is fully EIN3/EIL1
        dependent.
- term:
    id: GO:0019900
    label: kinase binding
  evidence_type: IPI
  original_reference_id: PMID:28600557
  review:
    summary: EIN3 binds the energy-sensor kinase KIN10, which regulates EIN3 stability.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: Kinase binding is a regulatory input to EIN3 rather than EIN3's core transcriptional activity.
- term:
    id: GO:0000976
    label: transcription cis-regulatory region binding
  evidence_type: IDA
  original_reference_id: PMID:26134166
  review:
    summary: EIN3 binds cis-regulatory DNA at EIN3-regulated promoters such as WDL5.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: This is a specific molecular description of EIN3's transcription factor role.
- term:
    id: GO:0042742
    label: defense response to bacterium
  evidence_type: IGI
  original_reference_id: PMID:19717619
  review:
    summary: EIN3/EIL1 modulate salicylic-acid-dependent bacterial defense outputs.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: Defense response is a downstream signaling context, not the primary EIN3 molecular function.
- term:
    id: GO:0040029
    label: epigenetic regulation of gene expression
  evidence_type: IMP
  original_reference_id: PMID:28874528
  review:
    summary: EIN3/EIL1 are required for transcriptional activation in the EIN2/ENAP1 histone-acetylation response.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: The epigenetic response is an important chromatin context for EIN3 target activation, but the direct histone-acetylation mechanism is mediated mainly by EIN2/ENAP1-associated machinery.
- term:
    id: GO:0009873
    label: ethylene-activated signaling pathway
  evidence_type: IMP
  original_reference_id: PMID:28874528
  review:
    summary: EIN3 is a central positive regulator of ethylene signaling.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: Ethylene-activated signaling is the core biological pathway in which EIN3 functions.
- term:
    id: GO:0006355
    label: regulation of DNA-templated transcription
  evidence_type: TAS
  original_reference_id: PMID:9851977
  review:
    summary: EIN3 regulates transcription of ethylene-responsive genes.
    action: ACCEPT
    reason: This is an appropriate biological-process level annotation for the transcription factor role.
- term:
    id: GO:2000082
    label: regulation of L-ascorbic acid biosynthetic process
  evidence_type: IEP
  original_reference_id: PMID:30723177
  review:
    summary: EIN3 affects ascorbic-acid biology through hormone and ROS response networks.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: This is a downstream physiological output rather than the core ethylene transcription factor function.
- term:
    id: GO:0009723
    label: response to ethylene
  evidence_type: IMP
  original_reference_id: PMID:19717619
  review:
    summary: EIN3 loss and regulation alter ethylene response phenotypes.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: The response term is correct but less informative than ethylene-activated signaling and transcriptional regulation.
- term:
    id: GO:0001666
    label: response to hypoxia
  evidence_type: IMP
  original_reference_id: PMID:25284079
  review:
    summary: EIN3 is stabilized or engaged during hypoxia/submergence-related ethylene signaling.
    action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
    reason: Hypoxia/submergence studies support EIN3 stabilization through ceramide-CTR1 ethylene signaling, but this is a stress context rather than the central EIN3 transcription factor function.
    supported_by:
    - reference_id: PMID:25822663
      supporting_text: stabilization of EIN3-GFP in vivo, suggests a role of ceramides in modulating CTR1-mediated ethylene signaling
- term:
    id: GO:0010182
    label: sugar mediated signaling pathway
  evidence_type: TAS
  original_reference_id: PMID:12663220
  review:
    summary: Sugar-hormone cross-talk is relevant to ethylene signaling, but the cached PMID:12663220 abstract does not verify an EIN3-specific annotation.
    action: UNDECIDED
    reason: The cached PMID:12663220 entry is abstract-only and discusses sugar, ABA, and ethylene signaling generally without naming EIN3, so UNDECIDED is more appropriate than REMOVE until full-text evidence is available.
references:
- id: PMID:12663220
  title: Sugar and hormone connections.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:18273012
  title: Dual control of nuclear EIN3 by bifurcate MAPK cascades in C2H4 signalling.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:18466304
  title: Ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis involves feedback regulation via the elaborate control of EBF2 expression by EIN3.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:19717619
  title: ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3-LIKE1 repress SALICYLIC ACID INDUCTION DEFICIENT2 expression to negatively regulate plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:23795294
  title: Temporal transcriptional response to ethylene gas drives growth hormone cross-regulation in Arabidopsis.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:25284079
  title: Arabidopsis acyl-CoA-binding protein ACBP3 participates in plant response to hypoxia by modulating very-long-chain fatty acid metabolism.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:25822663
  title: Unsaturation of very-long-chain ceramides protects plant from hypoxia-induced damages by modulating ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:26134166
  title: Ethylene Regulates the Arabidopsis Microtubule-Associated Protein WAVE-DAMPENED2-LIKE5 in Etiolated Hypocotyl Elongation.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:26352699
  title: Biochemical and Structural Insights into the Mechanism of DNA Recognition by Arabidopsis ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:27694846
  title: EIN2-dependent regulation of acetylation of histone H3K14 and non-canonical histone H3K23 in ethylene signalling.
  findings:
  - statement: EIN2-dependent H3K14/H3K23 acetylation provides chromatin context for EIN3/EIL1-dependent ethylene transcriptional activation, but does not establish direct EIN3 histone binding.
- id: PMID:28600557
  title: Regulatory Functions of Cellular Energy Sensor SNF1-Related Kinase1 for Leaf Senescence Delay through ETHYLENE- INSENSITIVE3 Repression.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:28874528
  title: EIN2 mediates direct regulation of histone acetylation in the ethylene response.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:30723177
  title: Ascorbic Acid Integrates the Antagonistic Modulation of Ethylene and Abscisic Acid in the Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:9215635
  title: Activation of the ethylene gas response pathway in Arabidopsis by the nuclear protein ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 and related proteins.
  findings: []
- id: PMID:9851977
  title: 'Nuclear events in ethylene signaling: a transcriptional cascade mediated by ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 and ETHYLENE-RESPONSE-FACTOR1.'
  findings: []
- id: file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
  title: UniProt record for Arabidopsis EIN3
  findings:
  - statement: EIN3 is described as a nuclear transcription factor in ethylene signaling.
- id: file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-deep-research-falcon.md
  title: Falcon deep research report for Arabidopsis EIN3
  findings:
  - statement: Falcon research supports EIN3 as a nuclear ethylene-pathway transcription factor whose core role is DNA binding and transcriptional regulation.
- id: file:interpro/panther/PTHR33305/PTHR33305-entries.csv
  title: PANTHER PTHR33305 entries
  findings:
  - statement: EIN3 is placed in subfamily PTHR33305:SF11, protein ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3.
core_functions:
- description: >-
    Nuclear DNA-binding transcription factor activity in the ethylene pathway,
    including binding ethylene-response cis-regulatory elements and activating
    transcription of primary ethylene-response genes such as ERF1.
  molecular_function:
    id: GO:0003700
    label: DNA-binding transcription factor activity
  directly_involved_in:
  - id: GO:0009873
    label: ethylene-activated signaling pathway
  - id: GO:0006355
    label: regulation of DNA-templated transcription
  locations:
  - id: GO:0005634
    label: nucleus
  supported_by:
  - reference_id: file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
    supporting_text: Transcription factor acting as a positive regulator in the
  - reference_id: file:ARATH/EIN3/EIN3-uniprot.txt
    supporting_text: Binds DNA (PubMed:26352699).
  - reference_id: PMID:9851977
    supporting_text: EIN3 and EILs comprise a family of novel sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins
    reference_section_type: ABSTRACT
  - reference_id: file:interpro/panther/PTHR33305/PTHR33305-entries.csv
    supporting_text: O24606,Protein ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3
proposed_new_terms: []
suggested_questions:
- question: Which EIN3 chromatin-binding annotations should be represented directly versus as part of EIN2/ENAP1-mediated histone acetylation?
- question: Should kinase-binding annotations for KIN10/MPK inputs remain on EIN3 or be captured only in pathway models?
suggested_experiments:
- description: Combine native EIN3 ChIP-seq with rapid ethylene treatment and ein2/enap1 perturbation to distinguish direct DNA-binding targets from chromatin-state effects.
- description: Quantitatively test KIN10, MPK3, and MPK6 effects on EIN3 target occupancy and transcriptional activation.