AP2 — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsAP2, an AP2/ERF domain-containing protein on chromosome 2 of garden lettuce, encodes a protein with sequence-specific DNA binding, transcription coactivator and corepressor activities, and blue light photoreceptor activity. It is associated with the regulation of floral organ abscission, seed development, endosperm development, seed coat development, and plant epidermal cell fate specification. The gene has been connected to numerous traits including seed color, branch angle, photoperiod-sensitive flowering time, plant male sterility, starch grain synthesis, and responses to aphids, thrips, and jasmonic acid. It is also linked to phenotypes such as ABA sensitivity, osmotic stress tolerance, trichome patterning, and seed coat pigmentation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to trichome development, drought tolerance, and defense against pathogens and insects.