ACH1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmACH1 (also known as LIN1, NRT2, and several NRT2 family designations) on maize chromosome 4 encodes a nitrate transporter belonging to the MFS superfamily with nitrate and nitrite transmembrane transporter activity. The gene is associated with nitrate transport, assimilation, and import, as well as nitrogen utilization, cellular response to nitrate, and endosperm and seedling development. It has been linked to traits including grain yield, grain size, plant height, leaf width, photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and root architecture traits such as root branching, length, and volume. Associations also extend to carotenoid and lutein content, seed protein content, proline content, and salt response. The gene product localizes to the tonoplast, plasmalemma, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to nitrate uptake, root development, and stress responses.