COMT — Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

Summary

BvCOMT (BVRB_3G049400) on sugar beet chromosome 3 encodes a protein with caffeate O-methyltransferase, flavone 3'-O-methyltransferase, quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase and myricetin 3'-O-methyltransferase activities, and belongs to the COMT-like dimerisation and SAM-dependent methyltransferase superfamily. The gene is associated with lignin, flavonol, indole glucosinolate, serotonin, melatonin, alkaloid and phenylpropanoid metabolism, as well as regulation of anthocyanin metabolism, phloem transport, stomatal closure, freezing response, and seed oilbody biogenesis. It has been linked to leaf vein morphology, photosynthetic rate, viral disease response, cell growth, callus formation, guaiacol production, root-knot nematode resistance, and alkaline stress tolerance. The protein localises 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, thermotolerance, Botrytis cinerea resistance, and photosynthesis.