XMPP — Zea mays

Summary

ZmXMPP (ZM00001EB054100) on maize chromosome 1 encodes a 5' nucleotidase with a HAD-superfamily hydrolase domain, placing it in the pyr-5-nucleotidase family. The gene is associated with xanthosine anabolism, purine nucleoside breakdown, aflatoxin anabolism, nicotianamine anabolism, siderophore anabolism, and phospholipid anabolism. It is linked to cell cycle and spindle checkpoints, meiosis I, metaphase, sporulation, spore formation, lateral root branching, nitrogen fixation, hyphal growth, and inorganic anion transport. The product localises to the cytosol, cytoplasm, and nucleus. ZmXMPP is associated with numerous agronomic traits including grain yield, grain number and size, plant height, shoot and root dry weight, root volume and branching, biomass yield, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content, percent germination, cold and salinity tolerance, and cytoplasmic male sterility. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to salt and oxidative stress responses, as well as ABA hypersensitivity and increased drought tolerance.