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MMK2, a novel alfalfa MAP kinase, specifically complements the yeast MPK1 function

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Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are serine/threonine protein kinases that are activated in response to a variety of stimuli. Here we report the isolation of an alfalfa cDNA encoding a functional MAP kinase, termedMMK2. The predicted amino acid sequence ofMMK2 shares 65% identity with a previously identified alfalfa MAP kinase, termedMMK1. Both alfalfa cDNA clones encode functional kinases when expressed in bacteria, undergoing autophosphorylation and activation to phosphorylate myelin basic protein in vitro. However, only MMK2 was able to phosphorylate a 39 kDa protein from the detergent-resistant cytoskeleton of carrot cells. The distinctiveness ofMMK2 was further shown by complementation analysis of three different MAP kinase-dependent yeast pathways; this revealed a highly specific replacement of the yeastMPK1 (SLT2) kinase byMMK2, which was found to be dependent on activation by the upstream regulators of the pathway. These results establish the existence of MAP kinases with different characteristics in higher plants, suggesting the possibility that they could mediate different cellular responses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Biocenter Vienna, Dr. Bohrgasse 9, A-1030, Vienna, Austria

    Claudia Jonak, Stefan Kiegerl & Heribert Hirt

  2. John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH, Colney, Norwich, UK

    Clive Lloyd & Jordi Chan

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  1. Claudia Jonak
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  2. Stefan Kiegerl
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  3. Heribert Hirt
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  4. Clive Lloyd
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  5. Jordi Chan
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Communicated by A. Kondorosi

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Jonak, C., Kiegerl, S., Hirt, H. et al. MMK2, a novel alfalfa MAP kinase, specifically complements the yeast MPK1 function. Molec. Gen. Genet. 248, 686–694 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191708

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02191708

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