title: A subset of OsSERK genes, including OsBAK1, affects normal growth and leaf development of rice.
abstract: Since the identification of BRI1-Associated receptor Kinase 1 (BAK1), a member of the Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor Kinase (SERK) family, the dual functions of BAK1 in BR signaling and innate immunity in Arabidopsis have attracted considerable attention as clues for understanding developmental processes that must be balanced between growth and defense over the life of plants. Here, we extended our research to study cellular functions of OsSERKs in rice. As it was difficult to identify an authentic ortholog of AtBAK1 in rice, we generated transgenic rice in which the expression of multiple OsSERK genes, including OsBAK1, was reduced by OsBAK1 RNA interference. Resulting transgenic rice showed reduced levels of Os-BAK1 and decreased sensitivity to BL, leading to semidwarfism in overall growth. Moreover, they resulted in abnormal growth patterns, especially in leaf development. Most of the OsBAK1RNAi transgenic rice plants were defective in the development of bulliform cells in the leaf epidermal layer. They also showed increased expression level of pathogenesis-related gene and enhanced susceptibility to a rice blast-causing fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae. These results indicate that OsSERK genes, such as OsBAK1, play versatile roles in rice growth and development.
authors: Department of Biological Science, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 140-742, Korea.
authors: Hye Sun
authors: HS
authors: Park
authors: Hee Young
authors: HY
authors: Ryu
authors: Beg Hab
authors: BH
authors: Kim
authors: Sun Young
authors: SY
authors: Kim
authors: In Sun
authors: IS
authors: Yoon
authors: Kyoung Hee
authors: KH
authors: Nam
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D060406:Brassinosteroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D010802:Phylogeny; D057865:Plant Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D060406:Brassinosteroids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic; D011494:Protein Kinases; C106294:SERK protein, plant; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C023623:brassinolide