AM25 — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SbAM25 (SORBI_3001G195800) on sorghum chromosome 1 encodes an aquaporin-like protein belonging to the MIP family, with transmembrane transporter activities for water, glycerol, urea, lactate, arsenite, silicate, and borate, as well as channel activity and protein binding. The gene is associated with transport of borate, silicic acid, lactate, arsenite, and urea, and with responses to boron, arsenic, hypoxia, and glucose. It has been linked to nodulation, phenylpropanoid metabolism, and defense regulation. Localization evidence connects it to the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, Casparian strip, and peribacteroid membrane. Phenotypic associations include boron uptake and deficiency tolerance, arsenite and aluminum tolerance, arsenic distribution, urea uptake, pollen development, and xylem and root transport. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to silicon transport, salt and drought responses, grain number, seed weight, and biomass yield.