ACH1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB209670 (ACH1, also known as LIN1 and ZmNRT2.1) on maize chromosome 4 encodes a protein with nitrate and nitrite transmembrane transporter activity, belonging to the MFS superfamily and NO3_transporter family. The protein localises to the membrane, tonoplast, plasmalemma, cytoplasm and nucleus. ACH1 is associated with nitrate transport, assimilation, import and cellular response to nitrate, as well as GABA transport, the GABA shunt, nitrogen fixation and utilization, differential growth, hormone and auxin anabolism, autophagy, and primary metabolism. The gene has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including grain yield, grain size, plant height, leaf width, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, net photosynthetic rate, root branching and length, crown and lateral root number, seed protein and amino acid content, nitrogen content, and salt response. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to nitrate uptake, root architecture, biomass accumulation, flowering time, disease resistance, and seed yield.