LEA — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_3G117190, designated MtLEA (also known as MtDHN1), encodes a dehydrin family protein on barrel medic chromosome 3. The product contains a dehydrin conserved domain and is annotated for metal binding. MtLEA is associated with seed dehydration, acquisition of desiccation tolerance, and regulation of seed maturation. It is linked to cellular responses to drought, water, salinity, and light stimulus, as well as chlorophyll breakdown, macroautophagy, and nitrogen fixation. The protein localizes to the cytosol, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Associations include seed longevity, photosynthetic rate, and seedling establishment. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to drought tolerance, seed production, seedling vigor, cell membrane stability, water use efficiency, and traits such as germination rate, root length, plant height, and chlorophyll content.