D61 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB361520, also known as D61, ZmD61, BRI1, or ZmBRI1 on maize chromosome 8, encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) with transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity and additional annotated molecular functions including OHCU decarboxylase, cycloeucalenol cycloisomerase, and protein kinase inhibitor activities. The gene is associated with negative regulation of brassinosteroid biosynthetic process, root system development, regulation of seedling development, anther wall tapetum cell differentiation, phloem development, and amyloplast organization. It localizes to the plasma membrane, tonoplast, and late endosomes. ZmD61 is linked to numerous agronomic traits including grain weight and width, biomass, dwarfism, shoot and root growth, node number, leaf and inflorescence morphology, drought sensitivity, salt stress tolerance, water stress response, and responses to aphids, powdery mildew, and aluminum. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to brassinosteroid receptor kinase activity, plant architecture, grain yield, seed yield, and fungal disease resistance.