Abstract: This review summarizes major recent discoveries in key components of ethylene signaling pathway which have substantially expanded our view of regulatory networks of the ethylene action. The structure and function of the receptors，the negative regulator CTR1，the controversy on the involvement of MAPK cascade in the ethylene signaling，the mechanisms of EIN2 nuclear translocation，the stability control of EIN3/EILs as well as some other major advances about ethylene signaling made in the last few years are covered. Finally，several unsolved questions are raised for future studies that will help to build a more complete model of ethylene signal transduction.

Key words: ethylene, signal transduction, related components, regulatory mechanism