NCED1 — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsNCED1, located on chromosome 7 of garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), encodes a protein with a carotenoid oxygenase domain and 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase activity. This gene is associated with abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling, as well as carotene breakdown and the anabolism of beta-carotene, xanthophyll, and lycopene. It has been linked to responses to abscisic acid, auxin, gibberellin, salicylate, salinity, and thirst, and to anther and pollen development, fruit ripening, and plant height. The encoded protein localizes to the chloroplast thylakoid membrane and stroma. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to traits such as drought tolerance, carotenoid content, root architecture, fruit firmness, and tuber dormancy.