RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 An Abscisic Acid-Activated and Calcium-Independent Protein Kinase from Guard Cells of Fava Bean. JF The Plant Cell JO Plant Cell FD American Society of Plant Biologists SP 2359 OP 2368 DO 10.1105/tpc.8.12.2359 VO 8 IS 12 A1 Li, J. A1 Assmann, S. M. YR 1996 UL http://www.plantcell.org/content/8/12/2359.abstract AB Abscisic acid (ABA) regulation of stomatal aperture is known to involve both Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent signal transduction pathways. Electrophysiological studies suggest that protein phosphorylation is involved in ABA action in guard cells. Using biochemical approaches, we identified an ABA-activated and Ca2+- independent protein kinase (AAPK) from guard cell protoplasts of fava bean. Autophosphorylation of AAPK was rapidly (~1 min) activated by ABA in a Ca2+- independent manner. ABA-activated autophosphorylation of AAPK occurred on serine but not on tyrosine residues and appeared to be guard cell specific. AAPK phosphorylated histone type III-S on serine and threonine residues, and its activity toward histone type III-S was markedly stimulated in ABA-treated guard cell protoplasts. Our results suggest that AAPK may play an important role in the Ca2+-independent ABA signaling pathways of guard cells.