EMPTY PERICARP11 serves as a factor for splicing of mitochondrial nad1 intron and is required to ensure proper seed development in maize.

ABSTRACT: Group II introns are common in the mitochondrial genome of higher plant species. The splicing of these introns is a complex process involving the synergistic action of multiple factors. However, few of these factors have been characterized in maize. In this study, we found that the Empty pericarp11 (Emp11) gene, which encodes a P-type pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein, is required for the development of maize seeds. The loss of Emp11 function seriously impairs embryo and endosperm development, resulting in empty pericarp seeds in maize, and alteration in Emp11 expression leads to quantitative variation in kernel size and weight. We found that the emp11 mutants showed a failure in nad1 intron splicing, exhibited a severe reduction in complex I assembly and activity, mitochondrial struc

SUBMITTER: Ren X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5853838 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature