HEL — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C004386.2, designated CmHEL on melon chromosome 6, encodes a protein of the PR4 family, possessing RNA nuclease, chitin-binding, sugar-binding and hydrolase activities, as well as transmembrane receptor protein serine/threonine kinase activity. The gene is associated with defence responses to bacteria, fungi, viruses and herbivores, systemic acquired resistance, hypersensitive response-programmed cell death, and ethylene, auxin and brassinosteroid signalling. It is linked to phloem transport, leaf vascular tissue pattern formation, and leaf vein morphology. Associations include pathogen defence, resistance to Botrytis cinerea, wilt symptom development, salt tolerance, premature senescence and leaf cell death. The product localises to secretory vesicles, the extracellular region and the plasma membrane. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to disease resistance, tobacco mosaic virus resistance, antifungal and insect resistance, and seed germination under salt stress.