PME — Nicotiana attenuata

Summary

A4A49_39346 (symbol PME) in coyote tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata, chromosome scaffold04920) encodes a pectinesterase (EC 3.1.1.11) with pectinesterase catalytic and pectin lyase fold domains, and also carries pectinesterase inhibitor and enzyme inhibitor activities. The gene is associated with pectin breakdown, cell wall modification, demethylation, carbohydrate metabolism, fruit ripening, pollen tube growth, cell death, exocytosis, secretion, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and homeostasis. It has been linked to turgor pressure, photosynthetic rate (CO₂-based), root length, and chlorophyll content. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to fruit firmness, fruit color, fruit weight and size, sugar content, lycopene content, amylose content, cellulose and lignin content, protein content, stem elongation, heterosis, and cytoplasmic male sterility.