GNK — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB299940, designated ZmGNK on maize chromosome 7, encodes a protein with glucosamine kinase activity (EC 2.7.1.59) and N-acetylglucosamine kinase activity, belonging to the eukaryotic-type GlcNAc kinase family and containing ATPase domains. The gene is associated with a wide range of biological processes including phosphorus utilization, vitamin A and B6 anabolism, nitrogen fixation, carbohydrate anabolism, mitochondrial gene expression, and response to starvation. It is linked to numerous agronomically important traits such as plant height, biomass yield, root volume and length, lateral root number, chlorophyll and anthocyanin content, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, salinity tolerance, anthesis time, plant male sterility, and grain protein content. The encoded protein localizes to the cytoplasm. Studies of related genes in other species have linked the family to grain protein content and root morphology traits.