AAT — Zea mays

Summary

ZmAAT (ZM00001EB221410) on maize chromosome 5 encodes a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent aminotransferase with multiple transaminase activities, including kynurenine-oxoglutarate, methionine-oxo-acid, L-glutamate:prephenate, L-aspartate:prephenate, nicotianamine, L-tyrosine-2-oxoglutarate, and L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate transaminase activities. The gene is associated with auxin anabolism, inhibition of IAA biosynthetic process, negative regulation of ethylene biosynthetic process, carotene and carotenoid anabolism, L-phenylalanine anabolism, tyrosine breakdown, methionine metabolism, shade avoidance, shoot regeneration, regulation of growth, embryo development ending in seed dormancy, and electron transfer. It has been linked to grain yield, plant height, leaf angle, days to maturity, seedling vigor, carotenoid content, IAA content, and insect damage. The protein localizes to chloroplast stroma, mitochondria, and cytosol. Related genes in other species connect the family to aromatic amino acid homeostasis, auxin biosynthesis, and ethylene biosynthesis.