Member of the two-component regulatory system AruS/AruR, which is involved in the regulation of the arginine transaminase (ATA) pathway in response to exogeneous L-arginine. Probably functions as a sensor kinase that phosphorylates AruR. ATP + protein L-histidine = ADP + protein N-phospho-L-histidine. Amino-acid degradation; L-arginine degradation [regulation]. Autophosphorylated. Activation may require a sequential transfer of a phosphate group from a His in the primary transmitter domain, to an Asp in the receiver domain and to a His in the secondary transmitter domain (By similarity). Disruption in the aruF mutant prevents growth on L-arginine.