MEK5 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT3G21220 (MEK5, also known as MKK5) encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) with EC 2.7.12.2 activity, possessing protein serine/threonine kinase activity and MAP kinase scaffold activity. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MEK5 is associated with the hypersensitive response, fusaric acid-induced cell death, ethylene production, and gene silencing. It is linked to positive regulation of ethylene biosynthesis, flavone metabolism, GABA biosynthesis, gibberellin-mediated signaling, regulation of photosynthesis light reactions, and root system development. The protein localizes to the cytosol, plasmalemma, mitochondria, nucleolus, endosome, and stress granules. MEK5 is associated with numerous traits including drought sensitivity, seed volume, leaf width, stem length, carotenoid content, water use efficiency, temperature stress response, aluminum response, and brassinosteroid content. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to MAP kinase signaling, microtubule stability, and ascorbic acid content.