CAD1 — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_8G092630 (CAD1, also known as MtCAD2) encodes a CAD-like protein with geraniol dehydrogenase, vomilenine reductase, mannitol dehydrogenase, coniferyl-alcohol dehydrogenase, 8-hydroxygeraniol dehydrogenase and cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase activities, along with zinc binding and protein binding functions. The gene is associated with lignin anabolism, alkaloid metabolism, detoxification and structural organization, and its product localizes to the apoplast, cytosol, plasmalemma and cytoplasm. CAD1 is associated with photosynthetic rate, bacterial resistance, salicylic acid accumulation, basal thermotolerance, arsenic translocation and tolerance, and leaf area. Studies of related genes in other species link the CAD family to stem strength, root and shoot biomass, lignin content, seed protein content, water use efficiency, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, chlorophyll content, disease resistance and ovule development.