ARF — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC10G049260.2 (ARF) encodes a small GTPase of the ARF/SAR family, with annotated molecular functions including G protein activity, phosphatidylinositol kinase activity, phospholipase activator activity, and actin binding. In tomato, this gene is associated with leaflet and sepal formation, placentation, root system development, regulation of auxin metabolism, carotenoid and chlorophyll metabolism, cuticle anabolism, and vesicle-mediated transport. It is linked to numerous agronomic traits including fruit set, fruit size and firmness, biomass yield, starch and sugar content, water use efficiency, leaf angle and shape, phototropism, blue light sensitivity, ethylene sensitivity, and responses to low temperature and viral disease. The gene product localizes to Golgi-associated vesicles, COPII-coated vesicles, the ER membrane, and early endosomes. Studies of related genes in other species connect the ARF family to vesicular transport, phototropic responses, and stress tolerance.