CAS1 — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_5G008810 (MtCAS1) on chromosome 5 of barrel medic encodes a squalene cyclase family protein with cucurbitadienol synthase and cycloartenol synthase activities. The gene is associated with tetracyclic and pentacyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis, sterol and steroidogenesis, triterpenoid anabolism, and flavonoid anabolism. It is associated with nodulation, somatic embryogenesis, regeneration, pollen development, response to auxin, peptide modification, thylakoid membrane organization, and homeostasis. Localization evidence links the product to the adiposome, vacuole, membrane, and mitochondria. The gene is associated with phosphorus uptake and with phenotypes including oxidosqualene cyclization product specificity, cycloartenol biosynthesis, male gametophyte function, plastid biogenesis, sterol biosynthesis, jasmonic acid signaling, carotenoid and chlorophyll accumulation, albinism, cell viability, and chloroplast differentiation. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to plastid development, carotenoid content, and floral organ identity.