COMT — Capsicum annuum

Summary

T459_09717 (CaCOMT) on pepper chromosome 3 encodes a protein with SAM-dependent methyltransferase and winged helix-like DNA-binding domains, annotated with multiple O-methyltransferase activities including caffeate, quercetin, flavone, and xanthotoxol O-methyltransferase. The gene is associated with lignin, coumarin, flavonol, indole glucosinolate, serotonin, and melatonin biosynthesis, as well as responses to UV, freezing, mannitol, and cadmium. It has been linked to leaf vein morphology, lignin content, photosynthetic rate, viral disease response, and cell growth traits. Localization evidence connects the protein to the cytosol, nucleus, plastid, plasmalemma, plasmodesma, plant-type cell wall, and stress granules. Studies of related genes in other species associate the family with lignin composition, stress tolerance, and secondary metabolism.