Mildew locus o (MLO) is a plant-specific
gene family
A gene family is a set of several similar genes, formed by duplication of a single original gene, and generally with similar biochemical functions. One such family are the genes for human hemoglobin subunits; the ten genes are in two clusters on ...
. Specific members of the Mildew Locus O gene family act as powdery mildew susceptibility factors. Their inactivation, as the result of a loss-of-function mutation, gene knock-out, or knock-down, is associated with a peculiar form of resistance, referred to as ''mlo'' resistance.
The ''mlo'' gene family is widely conserved across the plant kingdom with some members evolving as early as the first land plants.
Mlo proteins contain seven highly conserved
transmembrane domains
A transmembrane domain (TMD) is a membrane-spanning protein domain. TMDs generally adopt an alpha helix topological conformation, although some TMDs such as those in porins can adopt a different conformation. Because the interior of the lipid bi ...
, as well as a
calmodulin-binding domain
In molecular biology, calmodulin binding domain (CaMBD) is a protein domain found in small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels). These channels are independent of voltage and gated solely by intracellular Ca2+. They are he ...
.
[ '' TaMLO'' genes are the MLOs in '']Triticum aestivum
Common wheat (''Triticum aestivum''), also known as bread wheat, is a cultivated wheat species. About 95% of wheat produced worldwide is common wheat; it is the most widely grown of all crops and the cereal with the highest monetary yield.
Ta ...
''.
MLO genes in tomatoes
At least 17 MLO genes exist in tomato
The tomato is the edible berry of the plant ''Solanum lycopersicum'', commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Mexican Nahuatl word gave rise to the Spanish word , ...
es.[ They have a ]protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respon ...
length of between 270 and 591 amino acids.[
]
References
{{gene-stub
Plant genes