Chapter 7 - Role of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase family in plants

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) belongs to the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLK) family of RLKs. The principal function of SERK has been studied in the regulation of somatic embryogenesis, where they are predominantly responsible for transforming somatic cells into embryogenic cells. They also play a role in the regulation of signal transduction in a variety of growth and developmental processes. In signaling pathways, SERKs primarily function as a co-receptor kinase in several pathways, including brassinosteroid signaling, male sporogenesis, vascular development, floral abscission, and stomatal patterning, etc. In this chapter, we primarily focused on recent advances in understanding the roles of SERK in various plants. We’ll also talk about how SERK proteins, as a co-receptor, regulate signal transduction in a variety of processes. The newly found roles of SERK will aid in the unraveling of long-standing riddles in plant cell biology and molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we explained how we might use these SERK genes to boost agriculture products through various biotechnological ways.