AP2 — Glycine max

Summary

GmAP2 (GLYMA_09G005600V4) on soybean chromosome 9 encodes an aspartic endopeptidase with endopeptidase activity, belonging to the aspartic peptidase A1 family and containing saposin-like domains. The gene is associated with leaflet morphogenesis, seed growth, protein storage, and responses to water, light intensity, and glyphosate. It has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including grain yield per plant, seed weight, seed length, seed size, seed longevity, seed maturation, germination rate, plant height, root length, root fresh and dry weight, lateral root number, leaf relative water content, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal resistance, stomatal density and aperture, leaf chlorosis, proline content, protein content, drought tolerance, and salt response. The encoded protein localizes to vacuoles, protein storage vacuoles, secretory vesicles, plasmodesmata, and the extracellular space. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to floral organ number, meristem identity, and abscisic acid sensitivity.