The maize dull1 (du1) gene is a determinant of the structure of endosp
erm starch, and du1- mutations affect the activity of two enzymes invo
lved in starch biosynthesis, starch synthase II (SSII) and starch bran
ching enzyme IIa (SBEIIa). Six novel du1- mutations generated in Mutat
or-active plants were identified. A portion of the du1 locus was clone
d by transposon tagging, and a nearly full-length Du1 cDNA sequence wa
s determined. Du1 codes for a predicted 1674-residue protein, comprisi
ng one portion that is similar to SSIII of potato, as well as a large
unique region. Du1 transcripts are present in the endosperm during the
time of starch biosynthesis, but the mRNA was undetectable in leaf or
root tissue. The predicted size of the Du1 gene product and its expre
ssion pattern are consistent with those of maize SSII. The Du1 gene pr
oduct contains two repeated regions in its unique N terminus. One of t
hese contains a sequence identical to a conserved segment of SBEs. We
conclude that Du1 codes for a starch synthase, most likely SSII, and t
hat secondary effects of du1- mutations, such as reduction of SBEIIa,
result from the primary deficiency in this starch synthase.