ALS — Daucus carota subsp. sativus

Summary

DCAR_021621 (ALS) on carrot chromosome 6 encodes an acetolactate synthase, a thiamine-pyrophosphate-dependent enzyme. The gene is associated with acetolactate synthase activity, pyruvate decarboxylase activity, and 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase activity, and its product localises to the chloroplast stroma as part of the acetolactate synthase complex. ALS is associated with branched-chain amino acid and valine biosynthesis, fatty acid alpha-oxidation, carotenoid biosynthesis, seed germination, root development, and response to herbicide. The gene has been connected to chlorophyll content and to chlorsulfuron resistance and herbicide tolerance, with a specific G121A variant noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the ALS family to imidazolinone and sulfonylurea herbicide sensitivity and resistance, as well as to amino acid content, water use efficiency, root length, and plant growth traits.