COMT — Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

Summary

BvCOMT (BVRB_1G002020) on sugar beet chromosome 1 encodes a SAM-dependent O-methyltransferase with activities including caffeate O-methyltransferase, flavone 3'-O-methyltransferase, and xanthotoxol O-methyltransferase. It is associated with lignin, flavonol, coumarin, alkaloid, indole glucosinolate, serotonin, and melatonin biosynthesis, as well as regulation of anthocyanin metabolism, response to UV, freezing, and mannitol, phloem transport, and seed oilbody biogenesis. The gene is linked to leaf vein morphology, photosynthetic rate, viral disease response, and cell growth traits. Phenotypic associations include callus formation, guaiacol production, resistance to root-knot nematode, and vascular development. The protein localizes to the nucleus, cytosol, plastid, plasmalemma, plasmodesma, plant-type cell wall, and stress granules. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to lignin content, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, cold tolerance, and photosynthesis.