The tea plant CsbZIP6 transcription factor functions as a negative regulator of the cold stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana, potentially by down-regulating cold-responsive genes.

Wang et al. find that constitutive overexpression of CsbZIP6 in Arabidopsis lowered tolerance to freezing stress during seedling growth, exhibiting increased levels of electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde contents, and reduced levels of total soluble sugars under cold stress conditions. Microarray analysis revealed that CsbZIP6 overexpression repressed most of the cold- and drought-responsive genes as well as the starch metabolism under cold stress conditions.