WRKY33 — Brassica juncea

Summary

BJUA04G24400S (WRKY33) on Indian mustard chromosome A04 encodes a WRKY transcription factor with sequence-specific DNA binding, calmodulin binding, and protein kinase activity. It is associated with diverse biological processes including jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent systemic resistance, salicylic acid-mediated signaling, camalexin anabolism, cellular thermotolerance, and positive regulation of leaf senescence. The gene has been connected to agronomically important traits such as drought tolerance, salt tolerance, water use efficiency, disease tolerance, flowering time, seed growth and development, root morphology, and cadmium concentration. It localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and cell plate. Studies of related genes in other species link it to pathogen defense responses, camalexin production, MAP kinase signaling, stomatal immunity, and salt stress tolerance.