IRE1A — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT2G17520 (IRE1A) in Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a transmembrane protein with both protein serine/threonine kinase activity and RNA endonuclease activity (EC 2.7.11.1 and 3.1.26.-). This dual-function enzyme is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and is associated with the IRE1 branch of the unfolded protein response (UPR), ER-nuclear signaling, and mRNA processing via endonucleolytic cleavage and ligation. IRE1A is associated with stress tolerance, particularly endoplasmic reticulum stress tolerance, as well as autophosphorylation, immune system processes, and autophagy in response to ER stress. The gene is associated with vegetative growth time, root thickness, auxin sensitivity, cell elongation, and disease tolerance, with specific associations to salt tolerance (SALTTL), resistance to fungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola, and virus resistance. Related genes in other species are linked to hydrogen peroxide content and bacterial immunity.