Maize PPR278 Functions in Mitochondrial RNA Splicing and Editing

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Jingang Liang¹  Xinhai Li²  Jing Yang²  Yang Cui³  Zhijia Yang³  Xiangbo Zhang³  Weibin Song³  Jinsheng Lai³ 

[1] Development Center of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100176, China;National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Molecular Breeding, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;

关键词: PPR protein;    intron splicing;    C-to-U RNA editing;    maize;    seed development;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23063035

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are a large protein family in higher plants and play important roles during seed development. Most reported PPR proteins function in mitochondria. However, some PPR proteins localize to more than one organelle; functional characterization of these proteins remains limited in maize (Zea mays L.). Here, we cloned and analyzed the function of a P-subfamily PPR protein, PPR278. Loss-function of PPR278 led to a lower germination rate and other defects at the seedling stage, as well as smaller kernels compared to the wild type. PPR278 was expressed in all investigated tissues. Furthermore, we determined that PPR278 is involved in the splicing of two mitochondrial transcripts (nad2 intron 4 and nad5 introns 1 and 4), as well as RNA editing of C-to-U sites in 10 mitochondrial transcripts. PPR278 localized to the nucleus, implying that it may function as a transcriptional regulator during seed development. Our data indicate that PPR278 is involved in maize seed development via intron splicing and RNA editing in mitochondria and has potential regulatory roles in the nucleus.

【 授权许可】

Unknown