The Ethylene Receptors: Complex Perception for a Simple Gas

Ethylene is a hormone that regulates a number of physiological and developmental events in plants. This simple olefin is perceived by a family of receptors that have homology to bacterial two-component receptors. Although the ethylene receptors have been the focus of much study over the past several decades, many questions remain concerning their structure, function, and regulation. This review provides an overview on what is known about the ethylene receptors, summarizes recent research on the receptors, and presents models for receptor function and output.