EXPA5 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC05G007830.3, also known as EXPA5, SlExp1, or SlEXPA15, encodes an expansin protein on tomato chromosome 5. Expansins are cell-wall loosening proteins, and this gene is associated with plant-type cell wall loosening, cell wall disassembly, and regulation of cellulose anabolism. In tomato, it has been linked to shoot elongation, fruit ripening, and fruit firmness. The gene is also associated with fruit development, seed growth, auxin metabolism and transport, geotropism, and syngamy. Traits associated with this gene include seedling height, shoot system elongation rate, fruit ripening trait, fruit weight, fruit size, and germination rate. The protein localises to the extracellular region and membrane. Related genes in other species, such as EXP1, EXP2, and EXP8, further support the family's role in cell wall modification.