LOX1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmLOX1 (LOX1) on maize chromosome 1 encodes a lipoxygenase with linoleate 9S- and 13S-lipoxygenase activities, containing Lipoxygenase and PLAT/LH2 domains. The enzyme is associated with oxylipin metabolism, carotenoid breakdown, and the lipoxygenase pathway, and localises to plastids and cytoplasm. ZmLOX1 is linked to grain yield, grain number, plant height, cob weight, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, cold tolerance, salt response, and stearic acid, glucose, and protein content. It is also associated with pathogen resistance, insect herbivory resistance, Fusarium head blight resistance, aphid resistance, drought and heat tolerance, seed aging tolerance, germination rate, and systemic acquired resistance. Studies of related lipoxygenases in Arabidopsis and rice link the family to disease resistance, seed longevity, jasmonic acid-mediated defence, and leaf senescence.