ARF — Solanum tuberosum

Summary

StARF (PGSC0003DMG400013514) on potato chromosome 5 encodes a small GTPase of the Arf1-5-like family with GTPase, GTP-binding, phospholipase activator and G protein activities. The gene is associated with auxin signaling and anabolism, shoot morphogenesis, leaf development and senescence, lateral root formation, fruit ripening, cytokinesis, cell cycle, dedifferentiation, hypersensitivity, anthocyanin anabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, vesicle and intracellular protein transport, and nitric oxide storage. Its product localises to the Golgi and cytoplasm. Associations with ethylene sensitivity, organ identity, chlorophyll content and plant height have also been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to leaf relative water content, leaf angle, fruit firmness, starch and sugar content, stem elongation, fruit size, leaf shape, stomatal resistance and root length.