HI4'OMT — Cicer arietinum

Summary

LOC101495151 (symbol HI4'OMT, also known as CaHI4'OMT) on chickpea chromosome 6 encodes a protein with a COMT-like domain and S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase activity, with experimentally annotated isoflavone 4'-O-methyltransferase, 2,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavanone-4'-O-methyltransferase, and 6a-hydroxymaackiain-3-O-methyltransferase activities. The gene is associated with isoflavonoid and antibiotic biosynthesis, including phytoalexin and saponin production, as well as galactose metabolism. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to isoflavonoid methylation steps (EC 2.1.1.270, 2.1.1.46, 2.1.1.212) and, through more distant associations, to traits such as plant height, leaf size, and salt tolerance.