BIK1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT2G39660, designated BIK1 (botrytis-induced kinase 1) in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a plant serine/threonine protein kinase with multiple catalytic activities including transmembrane receptor protein serine/threonine kinase activity, guanylyl cyclase activity, and NAD(P)H oxidase H2O2-forming activity. BIK1 is associated with immune response activation, basal resistance, and resistance to necrotrophic fungi, as well as regulation of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid biosynthetic processes. The gene has been connected to stomatal defense, cell death, disease resistance, and reactive oxygen species production. Additional associations include responses to UV-A, phosphate transport regulation, carbohydrate homeostasis, and actin polymerization. BIK1 localizes to the endomembrane system, endosome, membrane, plastid, and plasmodesmata. Studies of related genes in other species link the BIK1 family to defense responses, fungal resistance, and insect resistance.