PME — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SOLYC11G051020.3, the tomato gene SlPME (also known as PPE1), encodes a protein with pectinesterase and pectinesterase inhibitor activity, placing it in the pectinesterase catalytic domain family. In tomato, SlPME is associated with pectin metabolism and breakdown, cell wall modification, cell adhesion, fruit abscission, and methanol and abscisic acid anabolism. It has been linked to fruit firmness, fruit color, fruit weight and size, sugar and lycopene content, cellulose and protein content, photosynthetic rate, and cytoplasmic male sterility. Related genes in other species link the family to traits such as amylose and lignin content, stem elongation, root length, and chlorophyll content.