Expression of an Arabidopsis lectin kinase receptor gene, lecRK-a1, is induced during senescence, wounding and in response to oligogalacturonic acids

The lectin receptor protein kinases (lecRKs) belong to a large gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. As for numerous receptor-like kinases (RLKs) of plants, no physiological role has been assigned to lecRKs. To try to elucidate the role of one of them, the expression of lecRK-a1 was studied during development and in response to abiotic stimuli. Histochemical analysis of transgenic plants containing the lecRK-a1 promoter fused to the GUS reporter gene revealed an increase of the expression level of lecRK-a1 in parallel with natural senescence processes. These results were confirmed by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR experiments and appeared to be specific to this member of the lecRK-a family. The expression of lecRK-a1 is locally activated in response to wounding and is also activated in response to oligogalacturonides. LecRK-a1 seems to play an important role in both the developmental program and adaptive processes in A. thaliana.