WEE1 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

LOC101506941, designated CaWEE1 on chickpea chromosome 3, encodes a protein kinase with serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase activities, calmodulin binding, and a domain characteristic of Wee1-like kinases. The gene is associated with downregulation of the cell cycle G2/M phase transition, DNA replication and damage checkpoints, and regulation of cell cycle G1/S phase transition. It is linked to cell division, endoreduplication, cell size, root growth, adventitious root formation, and responses to DNA damage, replication stress, oxidative stress, and cadmium stress. Associations also include trichome morphology, leaf composition, seed growth, plant embryo development, shoot apical meristem development, photomorphogenesis, circadian rhythm, and phytochrome B signaling. The protein localises to the nucleus, cytoplasm, stress granules, and male germ cell nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cell cycle arrest, microtubule dynamics, and mitosis-to-endocycle transitions.