SUS2 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C017942.2 (CmSUS2) on melon chromosome 8 encodes a sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) with sucrose synthase and transglycosidase activity. The gene is associated with fruit ripening, fruit sweetness, sucrose content, hexose content, sugar content, fruit weight, and fruit size. It has been connected to starch metabolism, sucrose metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as response to carbon dioxide, anoxia, mannitol, and thirst. Associations include guard cell starch accumulation, cellulose biosynthesis, tuber development, starch synthesis, seed development timing, vascular development, and metabolic homeostasis. The gene is linked to heterosis, stem length, stem diameter, photosynthetic rate, and respiration rate. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to seed development, seed storage product biosynthesis, dehydration tolerance, and hypoxic stress tolerance, while potato studies link it to cold-induced sweetening.