J2 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmJ2 (ZM00001EB013270) on maize chromosome 1 encodes a protein with kinase, UBA, and KA1 domains and has been annotated with multiple molecular functions including vitamin C transporter activity, phosphate transmembrane transporter activity, protein kinase inhibitor activity, and heat shock protein binding. The gene is associated with a wide range of biological processes such as vitamin C transport, the xanthophyll cycle, phloem loading, floral whorl development, and desiccation tolerance acquisition in seed. It localizes to chloroplast membranes, thylakoids, stress granules, and the vacuole. ZmJ2 is linked to numerous agronomic traits including leaf nitrogen and moisture content, stay green, flowering time, spikelet number, leaf angle, starch and sucrose content, and drought and heat stress tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to cold and heat stress responses, thermotolerance, photoperiodic flowering, and innate immunity.