Multifaceted roles of SCRM/ICE1 in stomatal development, cold stress and beyond

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor SCREAM (SCRM), also known as INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1 (ICE1), functions as a regulatory hub that integrates environmental and hormonal signals to mediate diverse aspects of plant development and stress adaptation. Initially characterized for its roles in cold tolerance and stomatal development, recent studies have expanded its functional landscape to include reproductive development, seed dormancy, leaf senescence, and immune modulation. This review synthesizes current knowledge of SCRM/ICE1's multifaceted functions across the plant life cycle, summarizing its molecular regulatory networks in development and stress responses respectively, and highlighting its central role as a regulatory node. By consolidating these dispersed findings, we discuss the balance between developmental programming and stress adaptation mediated by SCRM/ICE1, identify key questions for future research, and explore its potential applications in crop genetic improvement.