KC1 — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SbKC1, encoded by the sorghum gene SORBI_3004G107500 on chromosome 4, is a voltage-gated potassium channel belonging to the KAT/AKT family, possessing outward rectifier potassium channel activity and ion transporter activity. It is associated with the regulation of membrane potential, stomatal opening, potassium ion transport and homeostasis, and responses to abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, and basic pH. The gene has been linked to agronomically important traits such as yield, transpiration rate, leaf necrosis tolerance, alkali soil sensitivity, water stress response, and inflorescence development. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to potassium secretion into the xylem and stomatal regulation, as well as to potassium homeostasis, drought tolerance, and grain development.