COMT — Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Summary

BoCOMT, encoded by gene BOLND125_C09P047410.1_BOLND125_V1 on cauliflower chromosome 9, is a member of the SAM-dependent methyltransferase superfamily with caffeate O-methyltransferase, myricetin 3'-O-methyltransferase, quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase, flavone 3'-O-methyltransferase, and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase activities. The gene is associated with lignin, phenylpropanoid, flavonol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, serotonin, and melatonin biosynthesis, as well as macroautophagy, seed oilbody biogenesis, mucilage anabolism during seed coat development, response to freezing and mannitol, phloem transport, and leaf vascular tissue pattern formation. It has been linked to cellulose content, viral disease response, leaf vein morphology, cell growth and development traits, and phenotypes including sinapoyl ester content, lignin composition, and alkaline stress tolerance. The protein localises to the cytosol, nucleus, plasma membrane, plastid, plasmodesma, and plant-type cell wall. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to caffeic acid to ferulic acid conversion, nitrogen stress adaptation, and growth and development.