EF1A — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C002878.2, designated CmEF1A on melon chromosome 10, encodes a translation elongation factor 1-alpha, a GTP-binding protein with GTPase activity and translation elongation factor activity. The product also possesses SUMO transferase activity and SUMO binding, linking it to protein tagging and sumoylation. In melon, CmEF1A is associated with translation elongation, regulation of metabolism, nitric oxide storage, embryo development ending in seed dormancy, and response to abscisic acid. It localises to diverse cellular compartments including the cytosol, nucleolus, chloroplast stroma, mitochondria, vacuole, apoplast, plasmodesma, and Golgi complex. The gene is associated with plant stress response, photosynthetic rate, stomatal opening, abscisic acid sensitivity, flowering time, growth and development, and root morphology traits. Related genes in other species are linked to heat stress response, defense gene expression, and flowering time.