ALS — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsALS (ALS, CSR1, IMR1, TZP5) on chromosome 4 of garden lettuce encodes the large subunit of acetolactate synthase, a thiamine pyrophosphate-dependent enzyme. The gene product possesses acetolactate synthase, pyruvate decarboxylase and 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase activities, binds TPP, FAD and magnesium, and localises to the chloroplast stroma as part of the acetolactate synthase complex. LsALS is associated with response to herbicide, branched-chain amino acid anabolism, valine biosynthesis and fatty acid alpha-oxidation. It has been linked to water use efficiency and root length. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to herbicide resistance and tolerance, including to imidazolinone and sulfonylurea herbicides, as well as to amino acid content, chlorophyll content, cellulose content and plant growth traits.