A MAP kinase cascade that controls plant cytokinesis

J Biochem. 2004 Aug;136(2):127-32. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvh118.

Abstract

Several components of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades have been identified in higher plants and have been implicated in cellular responses to a wide variety of abiotic and biotic stimuli. Our recent work has demonstrated that a MAP kinase cascade is involved in the regulation of cytokinesis in plant cells. The MAP kinase cascade in tobacco includes NPK1 MAPK kinase kinase, NQK1 MAPK kinase, and NRK1 MAPK, and its activation is triggered by the binding of NACK1/2 kinesin-like protein to the NPK1 MAPK kinase kinase at the late M-phase of the cell cycle. We refer to this cascade as the NACK-PQR pathway. In this review, we introduce a mechanism for the regulation of plant cytokinesis, focusing on the role of the NACK-PQR pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / physiology
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cytokinesis
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Models, Biological
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plants / enzymology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Plant Proteins
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • NPK1 protein, Nicotiana tabacum
  • Kinesins