CAD — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3004G071000 (SbCAD) encodes a cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase with aryl-alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) and coniferyl-alcohol dehydrogenase activities, belonging to the CAD-like protein family. In sorghum, this gene is associated with C4 photosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, green leaf volatile biosynthesis, defense response, response to bacteria, hypersensitive response-programmed cell death, signal transduction, and response to water. The encoded protein localizes to the apoplast, cytosol, cytoplasm, and plasmalemma. Associations with lignin content, photosynthetic rate, reproductive period, and IAA content have been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the CAD family to lignin biosynthesis, plant defense, stem strength, biomass recalcitrance, flowering time, tillering, and grain shattering, though these are not established for SbCAD itself.