OVA9 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

CaOVA9 (LOC101493829) on chickpea chromosome 4 encodes a glutamine-tRNA ligase, an enzyme that catalyses glutaminyl-tRNA aminoacylation and also participates in glutamyl-tRNA aminoacylation. The protein binds ATP and localises to the cytosol, cytoplasm and nucleus. Beyond its core role in translation, CaOVA9 is associated with reproductive structure development, plant ovule development, post-embryonic development, calcium signalling, signal transduction and response to heat. It has also been connected to salt response and the SALTTL trait. Studies of related genes in other species link the glutamine-tRNA ligase family to ovule abortion, including increased ovule abortion rates, though this has not been established in chickpea.