ALK — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SORBI_3010G093400, designated SbALK, encodes a starch synthase with alpha-1,4-glucan glucosyltransferase activity (EC 2.4.1.21), belonging to the GS/SS family and containing a starch synthase catalytic domain. The gene is associated with amylopectin and starch anabolism, endosperm development, and localizes to the amyloplast. It is linked to starch gelatinization temperature, amylopectin chain length distribution (particularly DP12 and DP28), starch granule formation, and endosperm starch synthesis. SbALK is associated with pathways including starch biosynthesis, seed development, root gravitropism, and responses to abiotic stimuli. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to cooking quality, head rice yield, amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, grain shape and weight, spikelet fertility, heat tolerance, and heterosis, though these associations are not yet established in sorghum.