ZB8 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OsZB8 (also known as PAL1, PAL2, PAL3, PAL4, and ZB8) on rice chromosome 5 encodes a protein with phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (EC 4.3.1.24), tyrosine ammonia-lyase activity, ammonia-lyase activity, and DNA-binding transcription factor activity. The gene is associated with sheath blight resistance, bacterial blight resistance, resistance to root-knot nematode, and lignin deposition. It is linked to downregulation of chlorophyll anabolism, salicylic acid breakdown, cinnamic acid anabolism, lignin breakdown, and brassinosteroid anabolism. Associations include stem and culm strength, grain yield, plant height, tiller number, drought and cold tolerance, salt tolerance, photosynthetic rate, leaf angle, and seedling vigor. The protein localizes to the cytosol, cytoplasm, nucleus, and SCF complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to UV stress resistance, herbivore defense, and chlorogenic acid accumulation.