EP3 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmEP3 (ZM00001EB272090) on maize chromosome 6 encodes a chitinase with chitinase activity, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, and chitin binding, belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase 19 family. It is associated with chitin breakdown, cell wall macromolecule catabolic processes, amino sugar metabolism, polysaccharide breakdown, and tissue remodeling. The gene has been linked to ear development, shoot regeneration, sporulation, and killing of cells of other organisms, and its product localizes to the extracellular space. Associations with agronomic traits include grain yield, plant height, ear diameter, stem diameter, root length, lignin content, glucose content, insect damage, and heterosis. Related genes in other species encode endochitinases, though these are not established for ZmEP3 itself.