BWMK1,a novel MAP kinase induced by fungal infection and mechanical wounding in rice

The activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by different environmental stresses has been previously observed in several dicot plant species. Here, we report the isolation of a novel MAP kinase in rice that i s induced during infection by the blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea or upon m echanical wounding, The gene is designated as BWMK1 for blast- and wound-in duced MAP kinase. The cDNA of BWMK1 was isolated from rice leaves challenge d by the blast pathogen. Transcripts of the corresponding gene accumulated in rice leaves 4 h after blast inoculation and 30 min after mechanical woun ding, This gene encodes a 506 amino acid protein that contains a new dual-p hosphorylation activation motif TDY and about 150 unique amino acids on its C terminus. In-gel kinase activity and immunoprecipitation assays confirme d that BWMK1 is a functional MAP kinase, These results show that BWMK1 is a new member of the plant MAP kinase family and may mediate both defense and wound signaling in rice.