Zea Maize Calmodulin (<i>ZmCaM2</i>) Regulates Drought Tolerance in Corn Plants Through an Abscisic Acid-Dependent Signaling Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Calmodulins (CaMs), which are important calcium-binding proteins, play critical roles in plant stress responses. However, limited information is available regarding the biological functions of CaMs under drought stress. In this study, we identified and isolated a CaM gene, ZmCaM2, from maize (Zea mays L.) in length and encodes a 184-amino acid protein containing four EF-hand domains capable of specifically binding calcium ions (Ca²⁺). Subcellular localization analysis revealed that ZmCaM2 is localized to the nucleus and membrane. Functional characterization indicated that ZmCaM2 negatively regulates drought tolerance in maize by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content while decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity, proline (P

SUBMITTER: Liu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12693906 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature