ALN — Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris

Summary

BvALN (BVRB_8G183390) on sugar beet chromosome 8 encodes a protein with allantoinase activity, a metal-dependent hydrolase that binds cobalt and zinc ions and catalyses the conversion of allantoin to allantoate. The gene is associated with allantoin, ureide and purine base breakdown, xanthine metabolism, and cellular responses to nitrogen starvation. It has been linked to sucrose metabolism, the TCA cycle, carbohydrate metabolism, and responses to salt and salinity. Localisation evidence places the product in the cytoplasm and endoplasmic reticulum. The gene is associated with sucrose content, a salt tolerance locus (SALTTL), and phenotypes including cadmium and metal tolerance as well as mercury and cadmium accumulation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to nitrogen recycling, salt and drought tolerance, flowering time, plant size, seed dormancy, and oxidative stress tolerance.