ERL1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT5G62230, designated ERL1 (ERECTA-like 1) in Arabidopsis thaliana, encodes a non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase belonging to the plant leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) family. The product possesses transmembrane receptor protein kinase activity and binds ATP, peptides, and other proteins. ERL1 is associated with regulation of stomatal complex development and patterning, including negative regulation of stomatal complex development and guard mother cell division. It is linked to plant epidermis morphogenesis, inflorescence morphogenesis, reproductive shoot system development, organ growth, secondary growth, and cellular thermotolerance. The gene has been connected to numerous traits including leaf area, thickness, and trichome density, petal and pedicel length, biomass yield, seed set, plant size, water-use efficiency, and bacterial wilt resistance. ERL1 localizes to the plasma membrane and extracellular regions. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to drought tolerance, disease resistance, and stomatal density.