WRKY46 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

CaWRKY46 (LOC101503062) on chickpea chromosome 7 encodes a WRKY domain-containing protein that binds sequence-specific DNA and promoter regions, with metal-binding and protein-binding activities. The gene is associated with defense responses to nematodes and insects, positive regulation of salicylic acid-mediated signaling pathway, and regulation of jasmonic acid-mediated signaling pathway. It is linked to negative regulation of response to water deprivation, downregulation of abscisic acid and gibberellic acid mediated signaling, and lateral root development. Associations with drought tolerance, salt tolerance, aluminum resistance, malate secretion, leaf senescence, flavonoid accumulation, ammonium tolerance, stomatal movement, and salicylic acid biosynthesis have been reported. The protein localizes to the nucleus and nucleolus. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to aluminum response, insect damage response, and leaf senescence traits.