NCED1 — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsNCED1, located on chromosome 5 of garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), encodes a protein with carotenoid dioxygenase activity and metal binding, placing it in the Carotenoid_Oase domain family. This gene is associated with abscisic acid (ABA) anabolism and signaling, carotene breakdown, and the anabolism of beta-carotene, xanthophyll, and lycopene. It is linked to stomatal closure, anther and pollen development, fruit ripening, and responses to salicylate, gibberellin, auxin, thirst, salinity, and ABA. The product localizes to the chloroplast thylakoid membrane and stroma. Associations with plant height and salt tolerance have been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to drought tolerance, tuber dormancy, resistance to late blight, and traits such as carotenoid content, root length, and leaf relative water content.