MPC1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB118150 (ZmMPC1) on maize chromosome 2 encodes a urease enzyme (EC 3.5.1.5) with urease activity, nickel binding, and additional annotated toxin and lipid binding activities. The gene is associated with urea breakdown and metabolism, nitrogen fixation and utilization, atrazine and hydrocarbon breakdown, pyruvate import into mitochondria, and various transport and biosynthetic processes. It localizes to the urease complex, mitochondria, plastid, and plant-type vacuole. ZmMPC1 is linked to numerous agronomic traits including leaf electron transport rate, straw and forage yield, biomass yield, grain filling period, plant dry weight, seedling height, stem and culm diameter, leaf area index, leaf dimensions, root traits, and contents of nitrogen, nitrate, carbon, potassium, sulfur, cadmium, and carotenoids. It is also associated with stomatal closure, reduced stomatal aperture, enhanced drought tolerance, and drought resistance. Related genes in other species link the family to pyruvate transport, stomatal movement, plant growth, and cadmium tolerance.