THESEUS 1, FERONIA and relatives: a family of cell wall-sensing receptor kinases?

The plant cell wall provides form and integrity to the cell as well as a dynamic interface between a cell and its environment. Therefore mechanisms capable of policing changes in the cell wall, signaling cellular responses including those that would feedback regulate cell wall properties are expected to play important roles in facilitating growth and ensuring survival. Discoveries in the last few years that the Arabidopsis THESEUS 1 receptor-like kinase (RLK) may function as a sensor for cell wall defects to regulate growth and that its relatives FERONIA and ANXURs regulate pollen tube integrity imply strongly that they play key roles in cell wall-related processes. Furthermore, FERONIA acts as a cell surface regulator for RAC/ROP GTPases and activates production of reactive oxygen species which are, respectively, important molecular switches and mediators for diverse processes. These findings position the THESEUS 1/FERONIA family RLKs as surface regulators and potential cell wall sensors capable of broadly and profoundly impacting cellular pathways in response to diverse signals.

► The THESUES 1/FERONIA family receptor like kinases are potential wall sensors.
► A commonality among characterized members of the family is their cell growth regulatory function.
► FERONIA regulates pollen tube reception and pathogen–host cell interaction.
► FERONIA induces pollen tube rupture but ANXURs ensure its integrity.
► FERONIA regulates RAC/ROP GTPase and ROS production with important functional implications.