PAL — Lactuca sativa

Summary

LsPAL, encoded by the gene LSAT_V11C900484830 on lettuce chromosome 9, is a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The enzyme possesses phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, amino acid binding, and protein dimerization activity, and is also annotated with DNA-binding transcription factor activity. LsPAL is associated with the breakdown of salicylic acid and L-phenylalanine, cinnamic acid and phenylpropanoid anabolism, lignin breakdown, and negative regulation of cytokinin signalling. It is linked to responses to UV-B, oxidative stress, low humidity, drought recovery, guard cell fate commitment, and circadian rhythm. The gene is associated with traits including disease resistance, wound response, anthocyanin and flavonoid biosynthesis, chilling and freezing tolerance, salt stress tolerance, and photosynthetic rate. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to pathogen resistance, herbivore defense, and stress tolerance.