PAL — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsPAL, encoded by gene LSAT_V11C200090260 on lettuce chromosome 2, is a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) with ammonia-lyase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, belonging to the Phe_NH3-lyase family. It is associated with the breakdown of salicylic acid and L-phenylalanine, cinnamic acid and phenylpropanoid anabolism, lignin breakdown, and regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism. The gene has been linked to drought recovery, response to low humidity, UV-B, oxidative stress, and wounding, as well as guard cell fate commitment and differentiation. Associations include shoot fresh weight, photosynthetic and respiration rates, UV light sensitivity, disease resistance, anthocyanin accumulation, chilling and freezing tolerance, salt stress tolerance, and resistance to pathogens such as Corynespora cassiicola and Cucumber mosaic virus. Related genes in other species are linked to traits including fruit shelf life, drought and heat tolerance, and herbivore defense.