KAT1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT1G04710, also known as KAT1, encodes a peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.16) with 3-ketothiolase and acyltransferase activity, belonging to the thiolase protein family. In Arabidopsis, KAT1 is associated with potassium uptake, inward rectifier potassium channel activity, guard cell ion flux, and stomatal opening and closure. The gene has been linked to drought tolerance, water stress response, salt tolerance, turgor pressure, stomatal complex closure time, chlorophyll content, relative root length, and hypocotyl morphology. It is associated with fatty acid beta-oxidation, glyoxysome organization, membrane hyperpolarization and depolarization, auxin metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and oxylipin anabolism. The protein localizes to the cytoplasm, ER, mitochondria, nucleolus, and plant-type vacuole. Studies of related genes in other species link the thiolase family to leaf senescence, pollen fertility, and flavonoid content.