BADH — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OS01G0591000 (BADH, also known as ALDH1A) encodes a betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine and also exhibits broad aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, including acetaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase activities. In rice, this gene is associated with grain fragrance and aroma, particularly through the BADH2 variant, and with submergence tolerance, salt and drought stress tolerance, and male reproductive development including tapetum degeneration and programmed cell death. It is also associated with grain yield, plant height, stem diameter, photosynthetic rate, and disease tolerance. The protein localises to mitochondria, vacuoles, chloroplast stroma, and the ER, and is involved in glycine betaine biosynthesis, GABA catabolism, ethanol metabolism, and cellular detoxification of aldehydes. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to glycine betaine synthesis, oxidative stress tolerance, and leaf polarity.