Structure and expression of a gene from Arabidopsis protein related to SNFl protein kinase

SUMMARY The AKinlO gene from Arabidopsis thaliana encoding a putative Ser/Thr protein kinase (PK) has been isolated and characterized. The AKinlO-encoding gene is located on a genomic 5.4-kb BamHI fragment and contains ten introns, one being located in the 5’ untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence of AKinlO is 65% identical over the catalytic domain to the yeast PK (SNFl). SNFl is essential for the derepression of many glucose-repressible genes, including Suc2 which encodes invertase. Southern blot hybridization experiments suggested the presence of one copy of the gene per haploid genome of A. thaliana. Northern hybridization experiments indicated that this gene is expressed in roots, shoots and leaves. AKinlO may play an important role in a signal transduction cascade regulating gene expression and carbohydrate metabolism in higher plants.