CHIT3 — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_4G077310 (CHIT3, also known as MtACCICER) on barrel medic chromosome 4 encodes a glycosyl hydrolase superfamily protein with chitinase and lysozyme activity, and binds calcium ions. The gene is associated with chitin and polysaccharide breakdown, carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen fixation, nodulation, spore formation and germination, seed germination, seedling development, and defence response to fungi. It has been linked to seed hardness, seed dormancy, and biomass yield. The encoded protein localises to the amyloplast, vacuole, and extracellular space. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to traits including drought tolerance, plant height, root and seed weight, chlorophyll content, and phosphorus content.