Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Maize ZmGT14 Gene Family Reveals ZmGT14-36 as a Drought-Responsive Gene Interacting with UGT85A2

Drought stress significantly disrupts plant water balance and cell wall integrity, thereby inhibiting growth and development. The Glycosyltransferase 14 (GT14) family plays a pivotal role in cell wall biosynthesis and environmental stress responses; however, the mechanisms underlying its involvement in the drought response of maize (Zea mays L.) remain elusive. In this study, we identified 42 ZmGT14 members distributed across 10 chromosomes by genome-wide analysis. Phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and conserved motif analyses indicated high intra-subfamily conservation. Promoter analysis revealed that ZmGT14 genes are enriched with various stress-responsive elements, including ABRE, DRE, and MBS. Transcriptomic profiling and RT-qPCR verification demonstrated that the expression of ZmGT14-36 increased by approximately 30-fold within 36 h of drought treatment. Further screening and point-to-point Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) assays identified that ZmGT14-36 physically interacts with UGT85A2, a protein associated with redox homeostasis. These findings provide preliminary evidence that ZmGT14-36 may participate in the drought resistance response in maize. Collectively, our study elucidates the molecular evolutionary characteristics of the ZmGT14 family and provides a key candidate gene for the molecular breeding of drought-tolerant maize varieties.