STZ — Cicer arietinum

Summary

LOC101488755, designated CaSTZ (also known as ZAT6, ZF3, C2H2, and AZF3), encodes a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor on chickpea chromosome 4. The protein possesses DNA-binding and transcription corepressor activity, along with histone H3K4 methylase and protein kinase activities. CaSTZ is associated with leaflet formation, regulation of stomatal complex patterning, photoprotection, gibberellic acid homeostasis, and induced systemic resistance via jasmonic acid signaling. It is linked to traits such as photosynthetic rate, root and lateral root development, anthocyanin content, and responses to abiotic stress, osmotic stress, UV-B light, and insect damage. The gene has been connected to phosphate homeostasis, seed germination under salt stress, and cadmium accumulation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to salt and freezing stress tolerance, drought resistance, anthocyanin and flavonoid biosynthesis, and defense against Botrytis cinerea.