ACO1 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SlACO1 (Solyc09g090900) on tomato chromosome 9 encodes a protein with aconitase/3-isopropylmalate dehydratase large-subunit domains, aconitase activity, 4Fe-4S cluster binding, and intramolecular hydroxytransferase activity. The gene is associated with multiple metabolic processes including the glyoxylate cycle, methionine and SAM cycles, and the MEP pathway, as well as carotenoid and lycopene anabolism. SlACO1 has been connected to fruit traits such as lycopene content, fruit firmness, color, and shape, along with starch content, chlorophyll content, and water use efficiency. It is linked to ethylene sensitivity, germination rate, root number and morphology, lateral root development, gravitropic response, salt tolerance, and waterlogging stress tolerance. The protein localizes to mitochondria, chloroplast stroma, plastids, cytosol, plasmodesmata, and the apoplast. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to seed germination, ethylene biosynthesis, and stress responses.