ARF — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C011990.2, designated CmARF on melon chromosome 11, encodes a member of the small GTPase ARF/SAR family, a P-loop NTPase. The gene 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 to the plasma membrane, ER-to-Golgi transport, Golgi organization, and regulation of auxin metabolism. It localizes to Golgi-associated vesicles, COPII-coated vesicles, the cis-Golgi network, and the ER membrane. 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 ARF family to phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and salt tolerance.