KCS3 — Cucumis melo

Summary

MELO3C020668.2, also known as CmKCS3 or KCS12, encodes a 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) belonging to the FAE1-type polyketide synthase family, an elongase component involved in very-long-chain fatty acid elongation. The gene is associated with fatty acid anabolism and has been linked to cuticular wax biosynthesis, cutin synthesis, and cuticle formation. It is also connected to responses to cold, light stimulus, and abiotic stress. The encoded protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and membrane. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cuticular wax synthesis, while sequence similarity suggests broader associations with drought tolerance and flower development traits.