State Key Lab of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Plant J. 2011 Dec;68(5):830-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2011.04733.x. Epub 2011 Sep 14.
The NIMA-related kinases (NEKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases involved largely in cell cycle control in fungi, mammals and other eukaryotes. In Arabidopsis, NEK6 is involved in the regulation of epidermal cell morphogenesis. However, other roles of NEK6 in plants are less well understood. Here we report functions of NEK6 in plant growth, development and stress responses in Arabidopsis. NEK6 transcripts and proteins are induced by ethylene precursor ACC and salt stress. Expression of other NEK genes except NEK5 is also responsive to the two treatments. Overexpression and mutant analysis disclose that the NEK6 gene increases rosette growth, seed yield and lateral root formation. However, NEK6 appears to play a negative role in the control of seed size. The gene also promotes plant tolerance to salt stress and osmotic stress in its overexpressing plants. The NEK6 gene may achieve its function through suppression of ethylene biosynthesis and activation of CYCB1;1 and CYCA3;1 expression. Our present study reveals new functions of the NEK6 gene in plant growth and stress tolerance, and manipulation of NEK6 may improve important agronomic traits in crop plants.
NIMA 相关激酶（NEKs）是一类丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶，主要参与真菌、哺乳动物和其他真核生物的细胞周期调控。在拟南芥中，NEK6 参与表皮细胞形态发生的调控。然而，NEK6 在植物中的其他作用还不太清楚。在这里，我们报道了 NEK6 在拟南芥生长、发育和应激反应中的功能。NEK6 转录本和蛋白质受乙烯前体 ACC 和盐胁迫诱导。除 NEK5 外，其他 NEK 基因的表达也对这两种处理有反应。过表达和突变分析表明，NEK6 基因增加了莲座叶的生长、种子产量和侧根的形成。然而，NEK6 似乎在控制种子大小方面起着负面作用。该基因还能促进其过表达植株对盐胁迫和渗透胁迫的耐受性。该基因可能通过抑制乙烯生物合成和激活 CYCB1;1 和 CYCA3;1 的表达来实现其功能。本研究揭示了 NEK6 基因在植物生长和应激耐受性方面的新功能，对 NEK6 的操作可能会改善作物中重要的农艺性状。
