Plant SnRK1 Kinases: Structure, Regulation, and Function

SnRK1 is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase complex that regulates energy homeostasis in plants. In doing so, it promotes tolerance to adverse environmental conditions and influences a large array of growth and developmental processes. SnRK1 shares clear structural and functional similarities with its orthologs, yeast SNF1 and mammalian AMPK, but has evolved unique features that presumably provide a better adaptation to an autotrophic lifestyle. In this chapter, we review current knowledge on SnRK1, an atypical member of the SNF1/AMPK family, providing insight into its structure, regulation, and functions.