DCE — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SlDCE (SOLYC03G098240.3) encodes a glutamate decarboxylase with pyridoxal phosphate-dependent decarboxylase and transferase domains, exhibiting glutamate decarboxylase and sphinganine-1-phosphate aldolase activities, and binding calmodulin, calcium ions, and pyridoxal phosphate. In tomato, the gene family is associated with GABA accumulation and synthesis, and bacterial wilt resistance. SlDCE is linked to regulation of GABA catabolism, glutamate breakdown, and sphingolipid degradation, and localizes to the cytosol, ER membrane, plastid, mitochondria, and nucleus. Associations with agronomic traits include fruit weight and firmness, lycopene, flavonoid, sugar, and protein content, plant height, leaf number, shoot growth angle, water use efficiency, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, flowering time, seed development, root development, leaf senescence, and salt tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to hypoxia response, herbivory resistance, and phosphorus deprivation tolerance.