CEP1 — Asparagus officinalis

Summary

A4U43_C10F4200 (CEP1) in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) on chromosome 10 encodes a papain-like cysteine peptidase with thiol endopeptidase activity. The gene is associated with programmed cell death involved in cell development, floral organ senescence, anther wall tapetum development, and proteolysis. It is linked to responses to nutrient levels, various sugars, and hormones including cytokinin, gibberellin, ethylene, and auxin, as well as UV-B and defence response to fungi. The product localises to senescence-associated vacuoles, lysosomes, protein storage vacuoles, and the endoplasmic reticulum. Associations with traits include nitrate uptake, photosynthetic rate, leaf composition, seedling growth, and organ identity. Phenotype associations connect CEP1 to leaf senescence, shoot and root growth, seed yield, drought tolerance, stomatal closure, nitrogen remobilisation, pollen development and fertility, stem growth, insect resistance, and programmed cell death. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to developmental senescence, powdery mildew resistance, cadmium-induced programmed cell death, and saccharification efficiency.