DJC79 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmDJC79 (DJC79) on maize chromosome 3 encodes a DnaJ domain-containing protein with ATPase activator activity and Hsp70 protein binding. It is associated with a wide range of biological processes including protein splicing, posttranslational protein targeting to the ER membrane, carotenoid breakdown, C4 photosynthesis, RuBisCO assembly, oxidative phosphorylation, chloroplast fission, and sucrose breakdown. The protein localizes to the ER lumen and membrane, vacuole, cytoplasm, and nucleus. ZmDJC79 is linked to agronomically important traits such as grain size, grain weight, grain yield, plant height, anthesis time, heat tolerance, drought tolerance, water use efficiency, stomatal resistance, nitrogen content, and cytoplasmic male sterility. Studies of the rice relative ERDJ7 connect the family to endosperm quality, prolamin accumulation, ER quality control, and salt tolerance.