BIP — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3004G011700 (SbBIP) encodes a member of the Hsp70 family of ATP-dependent protein folding chaperones, containing a BIP_NBD domain and an HSP70 peptide-binding domain. The gene is associated with the unfolded protein response, ER stress response, and protein refolding in the endoplasmic reticulum, as well as with ERAD pathway activity. SbBIP has been linked to diverse traits including temperature stress response, osmotic sensitivity, root hair length and development, leaf senescence, flowering time, male fertility, and disease tolerance. It is also associated with actin filament-based movement, root hair tip growth, and plasmodesma-mediated cell-to-cell transport. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to grain traits including endosperm storage protein content, grain lysine content, and amylose content, as well as to cadmium stress tolerance and disease resistance.