MPK6 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT2G43790, designated MPK6 in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with dual-specificity phosphatase activity and protein kinase activity. MPK6 is associated with pathogen defense against Botrytis cinerea, cold acclimation, heat and hyperosmotic stress, and salt acclimation. It is linked to ethylene production under cadmium stress, chitin signaling, and induced systemic resistance. The gene has been connected to stomatal development, root colonization, and mutualistic interactions. MPK6 is also associated with traits such as freezing stress response, submergence tolerance, grain size, seed protein content, nitrate content and transport, root branching, and hydrogen peroxide production. It localizes to multiple cellular compartments including the microtubule, spindle, chloroplast outer membrane, and thylakoid. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to bacterial resistance and non-host resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae.