AFO — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsAFO, also known as LsYAB1, LsYAB2, LsYAB5, and LsFIL, is a YABBY family transcription factor on lettuce chromosome 3 that localises to the nucleus and binds DNA, zinc, and other proteins. It is associated with the specification of plant organ position, floral organ identity and number, carpel and style development, adaxial/abaxial axis polarity, leaf development, meristem determinacy and inflorescence growth, cytokinin breakdown, sporocyte differentiation, and anther development. The gene is linked to leaf angle, leaf morphology, flowering time, pollen fertility, anther morphology, microsporocyte development, and sporogenesis. Related genes in other species connect the family to abaxial cell fate, floral meristem identity, leaf polarity, fruit patterning, and stress responses including drought tolerance, disease resistance, and cadmium tolerance.