CIF1 — Solanum lycopersicum

Summary

SlCIF1 (SOLYC12G099200.2) on tomato chromosome 12 encodes a C/VIF1 family protein containing a pectinesterase inhibitor domain and an invertase/methylesterase inhibitor domain, classified as an enzyme inhibitor. The gene is associated with phloem unloading, fruit and seed development, leaf senescence, programmed cell death, and carbohydrate and sucrose metabolism. It localises to the plant-type cell wall and extracellular region. Associations include fruit sweetness, fruit weight, seed weight, sugar content, chlorophyll content, salt tolerance, ABA response, vacuolar invertase activity, and invertase activity. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to seedling growth, seed germination, Casparian strip formation, and cold-induced sweetening resistance.