EGL1 — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT1G63650 (EGL3, also known as ENHANCER OF GLABRA 3) on Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 1 encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor with DNA-binding, transcription coactivator, and protein dimerization activities. EGL3 is associated with epidermal cell fate specification, trichome spacing and morphogenesis, lateral inhibition, stomatal complex formation, root hair differentiation, and anthocyanin breakdown. It has been linked to traits including leaf trichome density, seed coat proportion and color, root epidermal cell length, stem dry weight, leaf lamina area, cadmium concentration, UV light sensitivity, and male sterility. The gene product localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, plasmalemma, mitochondria, and root hair. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to root hair patterning, anthocyanin production, and stomatal formation, and to trichome density and pathogen susceptibility.