Function
Involved in seed germination and seedling development. Essential for plant responses to karrikins, a class of butenolide compounds, structurally similar to strigolactones, released from burning vegetation that stimulate seed germination and enhance seedling photomorphogenesis. KAI2 is not required for strigolactone-mediated responses, but MAX2 is necessary for responses to karrikins and strigolactones (PubMed:20864454, PubMed:22357928, PubMed:23142794, PubMed:23301669). Lacks detectable hydrolase activity against karrikin (PubMed:23613584). Karrikin binding induces a conformational change (PubMed:23613584).