At2g44110: MLO15 (MILDEW RESISTANCE LOCUS O 15)

A member of a large family of seven-transmembrane domain proteins specific to plants, homologs of the barley mildew resistance locus o (MLO) protein. The Arabidopsis genome contains 15 genes encoding MLO proteins, with localization in plasma membrane. Phylogenetic analysis revealed four clades of closely-related AtMLO genes. ATMLO15 belongs to the clade II, with ATMLO13 and ATMLO15. The gene is expressed during early seedling growth, in root tips and flower (papillae, anthers and pollen grains), as shown by GUS activity patterns. The expression of several phylogenetically closely-related AtMLO genes showed similar or overlapping tissue specificity and analogous responsiveness to external stimuli, suggesting functional redundancy, co-function, or antagonistic function(s).