Characterization of an Arabidopsis thaliana gene (TMKL1) encoding a putative transmembrane protein with an unusual kinase-like domain

• Published in: Plant molecular biology Vol. 23; no. 2; p. 415
• Main Authors: Valon, C. (Institut des Sciences Vegetales CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)), Smalle, J, Goodman, H.M, Giraudat, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.10.1993
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis Proteins; ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA; GENE; GENES; Genes, Plant; LEUCINA; LEUCINE; MEMBRANA; MEMBRANE; Membrane Proteins - genetics; MEMBRANES; Molecular Sequence Data; Plant Proteins - genetics; Protein Kinases - genetics; Protein Sorting Signals - genetics; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Tissue Distribution; TRANSFERASAS; TRANSFERASE; TRANSFERASES
• ISSN: 0167-4412; 1573-5028
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00029017

We have characterized a novel Arabidopsis gene, designated TMKL1 (for Transmembrane Kinase-Like). The encoded protein is predicted to contain an N-terminal signal peptide, an extracellular domain with seven imperfect leucine-rich repeats, a single hydrophobic transmembrane segment, and a kinase-like intracellular domain which lacks, however, several of the key conserved residues essential for catalytic activity. The TMKL1 protein thus represents a unique and functionally intriguing member of the family of plant proteins related to animal receptor kinases. Northern blot analysis indicates that the TMKL1 gene is transcriptionally active in a variety of organs, and is developmentally regulated during silique maturation. Its possible functions are discussed.