GCP2 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmGCP2 (ZM00001EB215710) on maize chromosome 5 encodes an alpha tubulin family protein that is a structural constituent of the cytoskeleton, binds GTP, and has hydrolase activity. The gene is associated with microtubule localisation and a wide range of biological processes including microtubule assembly, division plane positioning, nuclear movement, cell cycle DNA replication, and chromatin decompaction. Associations with agronomically important traits have been observed, including grain yield, grain size and weight, seed weight and size, starch and amylose content, plant height, stem and culm strength, root length and dry weight, leaf relative water content, stomatal resistance, drought tolerance, and anthesis time. The gene is also linked to endospermless phenotype, mesocotyl and coleoptile length, stem elongation, lignin content, and cell wall thickening. Related genes in other species further connect the family to GTPase activity.