SAG12 — Brassica napus

Summary

BnSAG12 (SAG12) on chromosome A02 of oilseed rape encodes a papain-like cysteine peptidase, possessing cysteine-type peptidase and thiol endopeptidase activity. It is associated with senescence, including floral organ and leaf senescence, and with programmed cell death involved in cell development. The gene is linked to chlorophyll breakdown and the downregulation of chlorophyll anabolism, as well as starch breakdown, phloem loading and sucrose transport, and nitrate import and response. It has been connected to traits such as leaf chlorosis, chlorophyll content, sucrose content, starch content, protein content, nitrate uptake, seed yield, seed nitrogen content, nitrogen remobilization, drought resistance, and flooding tolerance. The protein localises to the senescence-associated vacuole, lysosome, vacuole, and protein storage vacuole. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to developmental senescence and cadmium-induced programmed cell death.