ARF — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C007583.2 (CmARF) on melon chromosome 9 encodes a small GTPase of the Arf1-5-like family, with ADP-ribosylation factor activity (EC 3.6.5.2) and multiple molecular functions including G protein activity, phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, and blue light photoreceptor activity. The gene is associated with vesicle-mediated transport, Golgi organization, ER-to-Golgi transport, and regulation of auxin metabolism. It is linked to traits such as biomass yield, water use efficiency, days to flowering, leaf senescence, disease tolerance, and responses to abiotic stresses including low temperature, oxidative stress, and salt tolerance. Localization evidence links the product to Golgi-associated vesicles, COPII-coated vesicles, the ER membrane, and the trans-Golgi network. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and fruit set.