BAD1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmBAD1 (ZM00001EB179810) on maize chromosome 4 encodes an aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD+) enzyme with multiple substrate specificities including lactaldehyde, succinate-semialdehyde, betaine-aldehyde, and coniferyl-aldehyde dehydrogenase activities, along with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and ion binding capabilities. The gene is associated with diverse biological processes such as nonribosomal peptide and PHB biosynthesis, folate and succinate metabolism, and stress responses. It has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including carbon isotope discrimination, mesocotyl length, tassel branch number, ear length, amylose content, leaf relative water content, cell membrane stability, net photosynthetic rate, and salt response. Localization evidence connects the product to mitochondria, vacuoles, apoplast, chloroplast stroma, and endoplasmic reticulum. Related genes in other species are associated with drought tolerance, osmotic stress tolerance, aldehyde detoxification, photosynthetic efficiency, and grain quality traits.