LP2 — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsLP2 (LP2) on chromosome 5 of garden lettuce encodes a non-specific lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) belonging to the bifunctional inhibitor/LTP/seed storage superfamily. The protein exhibits lipid carrier and lipid binding activities and is associated with phospholipid transfer to membranes, lipid transport, cutin anabolism and cuticle development, plant epidermal cell differentiation, programmed cell death, and defence responses to both Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. It localises to the plasmalemma, plant-type cell wall, plasmodesmata, Golgi, endosome, and extracellular space. The gene has been linked to photosynthetic rate, drought tolerance, cold tolerance, flowering time, shoot development and branching, hypocotyl elongation, gravitropism, cuticle permeability and integrity, seed set, pollen tube growth, and root development. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to cuticle-cell wall interface integrity, pathogen resistance, and salt stress tolerance.