ae1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB203670 (symbol ae1) on maize chromosome 4 encodes the AE1 protein. The gene is associated with starch and sucrose metabolism, endosperm and seed development, embryogenesis, and protein synthesis. Annotated ontology terms link it to developmental and metabolic processes. In maize, ae1 is associated with grain traits including amylose and amylopectin content, grain size, weight, and yield, as well as lysine content and drought tolerance. A kernel-wrinkling phenotype has also been observed. Studies of related genes in other species place the family within the embryo surrounding factor 1 brassicaceae domain-containing proteins, but this functional relationship has not been established in maize.