WRKY53 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT4G23810 (WRKY53) encodes a WRKY transcription factor with DNA-binding and protein serine/threonine kinase activity, and is associated with MEKK activity. In Arabidopsis, WRKY53 is linked to herbivory resistance, chlorophyll a breakdown, glucosinolate breakdown, positive regulation of salicylic acid-mediated signaling, activation of immune response, floral organ senescence, root system development, and response to water and osmotic stress. The gene has been connected to numerous traits including leaf senescence, stem senescence, leaf chlorosis, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal opening and closure, water use efficiency, starch content, jasmonic acid content, pollen fertility, flowering time, seed growth and development, root length and thickness, submergence response, aluminum response, insect damage response, disease tolerance, and responses to high and low temperature stress. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to drought tolerance, heat tolerance, and plant immunity.