ARF — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C010666.2, designated CmARF on melon chromosome 4, encodes a small GTPase of the Arf1-5-like family. The product is associated with multiple molecular functions including G protein activity, phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, phospholipase activator activity, and actin binding. CmARF is linked to vesicle-mediated transport, Golgi organization, ER-to-Golgi transport, and regulation of auxin metabolism. It localizes to Golgi-associated vesicles, COPII-coated vesicles, the ER membrane, and the trans-Golgi network. The gene has been connected to agronomically relevant traits including biomass yield, water use efficiency, days to flowering, disease tolerance, oxidative stress response, low temperature stress response, leaf senescence, and root morphology traits. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to vesicular transport, phototropic responses, blue-light sensing, chloroplast relocation, stomatal aperture opening, and abscisic acid response.