HEL — Cucumis sativus

Summary

CsHEL, encoded by the cucumber gene CSA_2G010370 on chromosome 2, belongs to the PR4 protein family and contains a Barwin domain. The product exhibits RNA nuclease, chitin-binding, sugar-binding, hydrolase, and transmembrane receptor protein serine/threonine kinase activities. CsHEL is associated with diverse biological processes including response to herbivores, viruses, and ethylene, systemic acquired resistance, fruit development, lipid storage, phloem transport, leaf vascular tissue pattern formation, and auxin and brassinosteroid signalling. It localises to secretory vesicles, the extracellular region, and the plasma membrane. The gene is linked to leaf vein morphology, leaf number, chlorophyll content, and plant height, as well as phenotypes including pathogen defence, resistance to Botrytis cinerea, salt tolerance, and premature senescence with leaf cell death. Related genes in other species connect the family to vascular development and leaf venation.