FAD2 — Glycine max

Summary

GLYMA_19G147300V4, designated GmFAD2 on soybean chromosome 19, encodes a fatty acid desaturase family protein with delta12 fatty acid acetylenase, oleate D12-hydroxylase, and multiple omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid desaturase activities. The product localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. In soybean, GmFAD2 is associated with unsaturated fatty acid and triglyceride anabolism, lipid storage and localization, pigmentation, nitrogen fixation, sucrose metabolism, and siRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing. The gene has been linked to seed traits including linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and protein content, as well as seed weight, size, and viability. Associations also extend to xanthophyll content, water use efficiency, stomatal resistance, temperature stress responses, aphid response, and disease tolerance. Related genes in other species connect the family to oleic acid content, fatty acid composition, aphid resistance, salt tolerance, and ethanol tolerance.