ARA1 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OsARA1 (OS06G0702500) on rice chromosome 6 encodes a GHMP-kinase family protein with L-arabinokinase and galactokinase activities, and binds ATP. The gene is associated with starch granule initiation, amylopectin anabolism, endosperm development, galactose metabolism, fermentation, and homeostasis. It localises to the plasmodesma, cytosol, and cytoplasm. Traits linked to OsARA1 include sugary and floury endosperm, grain appearance, amylose content, seed weight, sugar and starch content, and amylopectin structure. The gene has also been connected to arabinose metabolism, auxin sensitivity, lateral root development, carbon-energy status signalling, and pollen development. Studies of the Arabidopsis relative ISA1 link the family to starch synthesis, while sequence similarity connects it to grain size, weight, polysaccharide content, and stripe rust disease response.