Feronia: A Malectin-Like Domain-Containing Receptor Kinase in Arabidopsis Thaliana

The dissertation focused on FERONIA (FER), a receptor kinase in Arabidopsis thaliana, which played a crucial role in regulating RAC/ROP-mediated signal transduction for auxin-regulated root hair growth and other auxin-dependent responses. FER was shown to mediate NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species production necessary for pollen tube rupture and was involved in de-esterified pectin deposition, affecting pollen tube reception. The extracellular domain of FER interacted with pectin, establishing it as a cell wall-binding receptor kinase. FER also functioned as a negative regulator of sugar sensing and signaling pathways, with feronia mutants showing hypersensitivity to sucrose, elevated starch levels, and sucrose-induced cell wall defects. These findings highlighted FER's role in regulating essential plant functions, including RAC/ROP signaling, pollen tube reception, cell wall integrity, and sugar signaling.