The common bean COK-4 and the Arabidopsis FER kinase domain share similar functions in plant growth and defence.

Receptor-like kinases are membrane proteins that can be shared by diverse signalling pathways. Among them, the Arabidopsis thaliana FERONIA (FER) plays a role in the balance between distinct signals to control growth and defence. We have found that COK-4, a putative kinase encoded in the common bean anthracnose resistance locus Co-4, which is transcriptionally regulated during the immune response, is highly similar to the kinase domain of FER.