XAT2 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmXAT2 (XAT2) on maize chromosome 3 encodes a glycosyltransferase 61 family protein with pentosyltransferase, arabinosyltransferase, UDP-xylosyltransferase and transglycosidase activities. The gene is associated with cell wall assembly, pectin anabolism, polysaccharide metabolism, and carbohydrate export, and its product localises to the Golgi membrane and extracellular space. ZmXAT2 is associated with ear development, flavonoid metabolism, and sucrose transport. Among agronomically relevant traits, it is associated with grain weight, grain yield, starch content and digestibility, cellulose and lignin content, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, photosynthetic rate, germination rate, tiller number, and heterosis. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to lignin and biomass phenotypes.