HAN — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsHAN, also known as LsGATA20, encodes a GATA-type zinc-finger transcription factor with DNA-binding transcription activator activity, miRNA binding, and translation initiation factor activity. It localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plastid. In lettuce, LsHAN is associated with the regulation of shoot apical meristem development, abaxial cell fate specification, floral organ identity specification, carpel and stamen development, and the timing of the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition. It is linked to responses to cytokinin and nitrogen compounds, chloroplast organization, and somatic stem cell population maintenance. Associations with leaf morphology, leaf size, flower development, fruit growth, meristem identity, and disease tolerance have been observed. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to bract development, fruit valve formation, floral development, and Fusarium wilt resistance.