CAD — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB374100, designated ZmCAD (synonyms CAD5, CAD6, CAD7, CAD8A-D, CAD9, CHR) on maize chromosome 9, encodes a cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.195) with additional aryl-alcohol dehydrogenase, mannitol dehydrogenase, vomilenine reductase and 8-hydroxygeraniol dehydrogenase activities, belonging to the CAD-like family. The gene is associated with lignin and phenylpropanoid metabolism and anabolism, C4 photosynthesis, sucrose breakdown, folate and glutathione metabolism, seed development, and cell fate determination. It is linked to lignin, cellulose, starch and IAA content, plant height, fresh weight, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal resistance, reproductive period, disease and bacterial resistance, arsenic tolerance and translocation, salicylic acid accumulation, basal thermotolerance, C6-alcohol production, herbivore predator attraction, ethanol yield, and panicle, tiller, crown root and leaf area traits. The protein localises to the apoplast, cytosol, cytoplasm and plasmalemma. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to plant defense, lignification and lignin composition.