CHIT3 — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_8G467650 (CHIT3) in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) on chromosome 8 encodes a protein with chitinase and lysozyme activity, belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. It is associated with chitin and polysaccharide breakdown, amino sugar and hormone metabolism, jasmonic acid and chalcone anabolism, phenylpropanoid metabolism, nitrogen fixation, cell wall modification, spore formation and germination, interaction with host, regeneration, organogenesis, embryogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, and protein synthesis. The gene is linked to traits including seed hardness, seed dormancy, biomass yield, plant height, drought tolerance, and salt tolerance. The protein localizes to the amyloplast, vacuole, and extracellular space. Studies of related genes in other species indicate the family includes acidic endochitinases with EC 3.2.1.14 and 3.2.1.17 activities.