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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.07.14.664643

An extended β-finger motif is a near-universal feature of kinase fusion proteins

Powell, O. R.·Gilbert, D.·Wulff, B. B. H.
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Abstract

Kinase fusion proteins (KFPs) are immune receptors that confer disease resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). We discovered that KFPs with a confirmed function share an extended {beta}-finger motif, a Poaceae-specific feature that originated [~]98 million years ago. The genes encoding these receptors are among the most highly expressed within the plant KFP repertoire, suggesting that elevated transcript abundance is a hallmark of their disease resistance function.

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Powell, O. R., Gilbert, D., Wulff, B. B. H.. 2025-07-14. An extended β-finger motif is a near-universal feature of kinase fusion proteins. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.14.664643

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