Plant Transcription Factors: Molecular Mechanisms in Cadmium (Cd) Detoxification and Applications for Reducing Cd Accumulation in Rice Grains

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity threatens global food security and agricultural sustainability. Transcription factors (TFs) act as master regulators of the complex molecular networks involved in Cd detoxification. This review provides a focused synthesis of the molecular mechanisms governing Cd tolerance in plants, encompassing antioxidant defense, Cd chelation and sequestration, Cd uptake and transport, signal transduction, and damage repair pathways. We highlight the pivotal roles of key TFs in these specific processes, such as OsMYB45 in antioxidant defense, OsIRO2 in regulating chelation and storage, OsNAC5 in modulating Cd transport, and OsE2F in facilitating the repair of DNA and protein damage. Furthermore, we evaluate the potential of harnessing these TF-mediated regulatory mechanisms for developing low-Cd rice varieties. By delineating precise correlations between specific TFs and detoxification pathways, this review proposes actionable molecular strategies to mitigate Cd contamination, thereby contributing to ecological and food safety.