CAF — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_006124 (DcCAF) on carrot chromosome 2 encodes a protein with ribonuclease III, helicase, DNA glycosylase, AP lyase, RNA methyltransferase and DNA demethylase activities, and contains Dicer dimerisation and PAZ domains. The gene is associated with small RNA processing pathways including lsiRNA, pre-miRNA, ta-siRNA and pri-miRNA processing, gene silencing by miRNA-directed mRNA cleavage, and regulation of adaxial/abaxial pattern formation, seed maturation, meristem development and cell fate specification. In carrot, DcCAF has been linked to soluble sugar content. Broader associations connect it to leaf, floral and inflorescence morphology, root and shoot meristem development, seed dormancy, viral disease response, herbivore resistance, jasmonate signalling, and resistance to fungal pathogens including Fusarium brachygibbosum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The protein localises to the nucleus, nucleolus, cytosol, nuclear speck and D-body.