NAC54 — Zea mays

Summary

ZM00001EB390560 (NAC54, also known as ZmONAC121) on maize chromosome 9 encodes a NAC-domain protein with sequence-specific DNA binding and protein homodimerization activity. The gene is associated with diverse biological processes including host invasion, memory, protein processing, the unfolded protein response, auxin and fatty acid metabolism, reproductive structure development, MAPK cascades, fruit development, stomatal closure, detoxification, and anthocyanin anabolism. It is linked to numerous agronomically important traits such as grain yield, ear weight, plant height, leaf number, anthesis time, seed dormancy, germination rate, root length, sugar and starch content, proline content, water use efficiency, cell membrane stability, and tolerance to heat, cold, drought, and salt. The protein localizes to both the nucleus and plasmalemma. Studies of related genes in other species connect this gene family to osmotic stress tolerance and osmotic adjustment capacity.