BAD1 — Zea mays

Summary

ZmBAD1 (also known as ZmALDH22A1, RF2) on maize chromosome 9 encodes an aldehyde dehydrogenase with NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ activities, including acetaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, betaine-aldehyde and aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase activities, and binds Na⁺ and K⁺ ions. The gene is associated with mitochondrial gene expression and localisation, tube development, cellular detoxification of aldehydes, the GABA shunt, and responses to anoxia. It is associated with agronomically important traits including cytoplasmic male sterility, pollen fertility, hybrid incompatibility, heterosis, grain number, plant height, tassel branch number, leaf angle, root number and length, germination rate, leaf relative water content, salt response and heat tolerance. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to further aldehyde metabolism pathways.