OLD3 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

CaOLD3 (LOC101491657) on chickpea chromosome 4 encodes a cysteine synthase family protein with CysK and Cys_synth domains, exhibiting multiple enzyme activities including cysteine synthase, L-mimosine synthase, and L-serine O-acetyltransferase activity. The gene is associated with sulfate and selenate transport, cysteine anabolism, cellular response to sulfate starvation, and negative regulation of leaf senescence. It is linked to fruit ripening, pollen tube growth, immune response, and stress responses including cadmium and zinc. Associations with agronomic traits include drought tolerance, nitrate uptake, seedling and seed growth and development, root thickness, leaf composition, and sulfur sensitivity. The encoded protein localizes to the cytosol, chloroplast stroma, mitochondria, apoplast, plant-type vacuole, Golgi complex, and plasmalemma. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to sulfate assimilation, sulfur deficiency response, cadmium tolerance, and leaf senescence.