Chlorophyll deficiency in the maize elongated mesocotyl2 mutant is caused by a defective heme oxygenase and delaying grana stacking.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Etiolated seedlings initiate grana stacking and chlorophyll biosynthesis in parallel with the first exposure to light, during which phytochromes play an important role. Functional phytochromes are biosynthesized separately for two components. One phytochrome is biosynthesized for apoprotein and the other is biosynthesized for the chromophore that includes heme oxygenase (HO).

Methodology/principal finding

We isolated a ho1 homolog by map-based cloning of a maize elongated mesocotyl2 (elm2) mutant. cDNA sequencing of the ho1 homolog in elm2 revealed a 31 bp deletion. De-etiolation responses to red and far-red light were disrupted in elm2 seedlings, with a pronounced elongation of the mesocotyl. The endogenous HO activity in the elm2 mutant decreased remarkably. Tra

SUBMITTER: Shi D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3823864 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature