ARA1 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OS02G0141300, also known as ARA1, CAP1, ISA1 or OsISA1, encodes a GHMP-kinase family protein with L-arabinokinase and galactokinase activities and ATP binding. In rice, the gene is associated with starch granule initiation, amylopectin anabolism, endosperm development, and pollen development, and localises to the plasmodesma and cytosol. It has been linked to sugary endosperm, floury endosperm, grain appearance, amylose content, seed weight, sugar content, starch content, and pollen fertility. Associations also include arabinose metabolism, auxin sensitivity, lateral root number, lateral root development, and carbon energy status signaling. Studies of the Arabidopsis relative ISA1 connect the family to starch synthesis, and sequence similarity links to related genes in other species extend to grain size, grain weight, polysaccharide content, and wheat stripe rust disease response.