The transduction of the signal for grape bud dormancy breaking induced by hydrogen cyanamide may involve the SNF-like protein kinase GDBRPK.

Alterations in gene expression during early stages of dormancy release in grapevine buds were analyzed to facilitate the identification of gene products that may mediate the signal transduction of a dormancy-release signal, or derepression of meristematic activity. In the present report we describe the identification of GDBRPK, a transcript for an SNF-like protein kinase that is up-regulated upon chemical induction of dormancy release by hydrogen cyanamide (HC). Since SNF and SNF-like protein kinases are known as sensors of stress signals, we hypothesize that GDBRPK may be involved in the perception of a stress signal induced by HC. We also describe a simultaneous and remarkable induction of both PDC and ADH transcripts that was observed shortly after HC application, and was of a transient nature. These data may imply that HC application leads to a transient respiratory stress, which likely results in a temporary increase in the AMP/ATP ratio. Since AMP is known as a stress signal that is sensed by SNF-like kinases, we suggest that the SNF-like GDBRPK could serve as the sensor of this signal.