ACO1 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C018816.2 (ACO1) on melon chromosome 2 encodes an aconitase, an enzyme with intramolecular hydroxytransferase activity that also binds 4Fe-4S clusters, copper, and mRNA 5′-UTRs. In melon, ACO1 is associated with fruit shelf-life, and is linked to fruit firmness, ethylene sensitivity, root morphology, lateral root development, waterlogging stress tolerance, gravitropic response, salt tolerance, and abiotic stress response. The gene is associated with the TCA cycle, citrate and isocitrate metabolism, the glyoxylate cycle, methionine metabolism, the SAM cycle, ethylene and glucosinolate biosynthesis, sex determination, trichome morphogenesis, regulation of salicylic acid signaling, negative regulation of leaf senescence, and downregulation of defense responses. It localizes to mitochondria, chloroplast stroma, plastids, cytosol, plasmalemma, apoplast, plant-type cell wall, vacuole, and plasmodesmata. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to seed volume, submergence tolerance, lycopene and carotenoid content, fruit color and shape, root number, starch content, and water use efficiency.