Abstract
Leaf senescence is a genetically controlled process that involves the perception of extracellular signals and signal transduction. The receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) are known to act as an important class of cell surface receptors and are involved in multiple biological processes such as development and stress responses. The functions of a number of RLK members have been characterized in Arabidopsis and other plant species, but only a limited number of RLK proteins have been reported to be associated with leaf senescence. In the present study, we have characterized the role of the somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 4 (SERK4) gene in leaf senescence. The expression of SERK4 was up-regulated during leaf senescence and by several abiotic stress treatments in Arabidopsis. The serk4-1 knockout mutant was found to display a significant early leaf senescence phenotype. Furthermore, the results of overexpression analysis and complementary analysis supported the idea that SERK4 acts as a negative regulator in the process of leaf senescence.
Highlights
Leaf senescence in plants is a predetermined cell-death mechanism and a coordinated process that involves the remobilization of nutrients [1]
The somatic embryogenesis receptor kinase 4 (SERK4) Gene is Up-Regulated During Leaf Senescence
The expression pattern of SERK4 was examined by qRT-PCR
Summary
Leaf senescence in plants is a predetermined cell-death mechanism and a coordinated process that involves the remobilization of nutrients [1]. Plants undergo a process of recycling and translocating nutrients from senescing organs to non-senescing parts such as seeds and other storage tissues, ensuring their survival and propagation. Macromolecules such as lipids, proteins and carbohydrates are degraded [4], while at the molecular level, a number of signaling pathways operate with the involvement of key regulatory components to activate the expression of a subset of senescence associated genes (SAGs), participating in senescence regulation [5,6]. The cell surface receptors are important structural proteins, serving as the scaffold to perceive signals which coordinate cell-to-cell communication
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