COMT — Phaseolus vulgaris

Summary

PHAVU_009G044400, the PvCOMT gene on chromosome 9 of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), encodes a protein with COMT-like dimerisation and SAM-dependent methyltransferase domains, and has multiple methyltransferase activities annotated on this gene, including quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase, flavone 3'-O-methyltransferase, and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase activity. The gene is associated with lignin, flavonoid, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, as well as melatonin anabolism, serotonin metabolism, and regulation of anthocyanin metabolism. It has been linked to traits including lignin content, cellulose content, sugar content, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, respiration rate, leaf vein morphology, and viral disease response. Localisation evidence connects the gene product to the plant-type cell wall, plasmodesma, plastid, cytosol, plasma membrane, and nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to caffeic acid to ferulic acid conversion, lignin composition, flavonol methylation, and nitrogen stress adaptation.