MS1 — Asparagus officinalis

Summary

AoMS1 (MS1) on asparagus chromosome 5 encodes a cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (EC 2.1.1.14), a member of the MetE family, and also carries annotated ADP-glucose pyrophosphatase, NAD+ diphosphatase, DNA-binding transcription factor and mRNA-binding activities. The gene is associated with de novo L-methionine biosynthesis, regulation of starch biosynthesis, DNA methylation-dependent heterochromatin assembly, and responses to ozone, bacteria, insects, hypoxia and zinc. It is linked to whole plant size, seed growth and development, root morphology, oxidative stress response, disease tolerance and salt tolerance. Associations with male sterility, pollen exine development, anther development, chromatin silencing, programmed cell death, defense activation, glucosinolate and camalexin accumulation, and insect resistance have been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to seed germination, salt tolerance, oxidative stress tolerance, immunity, pathogen defense and indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis.