COMT — Solanum tuberosum

Summary

StCOMT (PGSC0003DMG400000560) on potato chromosome 3 encodes a caffeate O-methyltransferase with additional flavone 3'-O-methyltransferase, quercetin 3-O-methyltransferase, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase, and myricetin 3'-O-methyltransferase activities, belonging to the SAM-dependent methyltransferase superfamily. The gene is associated with phenylpropanoid, flavonol, lignan, coumarin, indole glucosinolate, serotonin, and melatonin metabolism, as well as nitrogen utilization, anthocyanin regulation, and responses to freezing and mannitol. It has been linked to leaf vein morphology, lignin content, photosynthetic rate, drought tolerance, viral disease response, cell growth, and callus formation. The product localizes to the cytosol, nucleus, plastid, plasmalemma, plasmodesma, plant-type cell wall, and stress granules. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to lignin composition, salt and cold tolerance, and resistance to Botrytis cinerea.