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Abstract
The Arabidopsis BAK1 (BRI1 Associated receptor Kinase 1) was identified by a yeast
two-hybrid screen as a specific interactor for BRI1, a critical component of a membrane
brassinosteroid (BR) receptor. In yeast, BAK1/BRI1 interaction activates their kinase
activities through transphosphorylation. BAK1 and BRI1 share similar gene expression
and subcellular localization patterns and physically associate with each other in
plants. Overexpression of the BAK1 gene leads to a phenotype reminiscent of BRI1-overexpression
transgenic plants and rescues a weak bri1 mutant. In contrast, a bak1 knockout mutation
gives rise to a weak bri1-like phenotype and enhances a weak bri1 mutation. We propose
that BAK1 and BRI1 function together to mediate plant steroid signaling.