IRT3 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OsIRT3 (also known as OsZIP9, OsZIP7, or OsZIP4) on rice chromosome 5 encodes a ZIP family metal transporter with copper ion, zinc ion, and metal ion transmembrane transporter activity, as well as iron channel activity and protein binding. The gene is associated with zinc import, iron transport, cadmium transport, and cell redox homeostasis, and its product localizes to the plasma membrane, plant-type vacuole, and extracellular regions. OsIRT3 is associated with grain cadmium accumulation, xylem, vascular bundle, and tolerance phenotypes, as well as traits including zinc and cadmium concentration, amylose content, tiller number, and grain size. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to iron and zinc accumulation, and to copper transport and plasma membrane localization.