DDM2 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmDDM2 (ZM00001EB301620) on maize chromosome 7 encodes a DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase with activity on CpNpG substrates (EC 2.1.1.37), belonging to the DNMT1-like family and containing BAH and C5-methyltransferase domains. The gene is associated with DNA imprinting, retrotransposon silencing by RdDM, epigenetic programming in the endosperm, and chromatin-mediated maintenance of transcription. It has been linked to numerous agronomic traits including grain yield, seed weight and size, plant height, flowering time, heterosis, water use efficiency, and responses to high and low temperature stress. Associations with leaf variegation, chloroplast development, photosystem II repair, and thylakoid membrane biogenesis have also been observed. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to DNA methylation maintenance, seed viability, and virus resistance, as well as to endosperm and panicle development.