ZmCTLP1 is required for the maintenance of lipid homeostasis and the basal endosperm transfer layer in maize kernels.

ABSTRACT: Maize kernel weight is influenced by the unloading of nutrients from the maternal placenta and their passage through the transfer tissue of the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) and the basal intermediate zone (BIZ) to the upper part of the endosperm. Here, we show that Small kernel 10 (Smk10) encodes a choline transporter-like protein 1 (ZmCTLP1) that facilitates choline uptake and is located in the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Its loss of function results in reduced choline content, leading to smaller kernels with a lower starch content. Mutation of ZmCTLP1 disrupts membrane lipid homeostasis and the normal development of wall in-growths. Expression levels of Mn1 and ZmSWEET4c, two kernel filling-related genes, are downregulated in the smk10, which is likely to be one of the major caus

SUBMITTER: Hu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9292782 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature