biostudies-literatureHou ZHNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaMajor Project on Agricultural Bio-breeding of ChinaBasic Research Center, Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciencese02984https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12462999biostudies-literatureUnknown12(36)The wheat (Triticum aestivum) brassinazole-resistant 2 (TaBZR2) gene is identified as significantly associated with drought tolerance by genome-wide association study (GWAS), and a chloroplast pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein gene TaPPR13 functioned as a positive drought stress regulator downstream of TaBZR2. Overexpression of TaPPR13 enhanced the antioxidative defense system, whereas knockdown of TaPPR13 led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused abnormalities in chloroplast thylakoids under drought stress conditions. RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpression of TaPPR13 significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear-encoded genes involved in ROS scavenging and the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Furthermore, TaPPR13 interacted with TaAOR1 and TAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)TaPPR13, a Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein Gene Activated by TaBZR2, Confers Drought Stress Tolerance by Enhancing the Antioxidant Defense System and Promoting Retrograde Signaling in Wheat (Triticum aestivum).PMC12462999324721972023ZD04026CAAS-CSNCB-202302Li LHMa YZChen JChen MZheng WJLiu YWZhang SXWang JYYu TFHou ZHCao XYZhou YBXu ZSMa XFZheng LCheng WJRu JNNie XJWei JTYang SHJiao YCfalseTaPPR13, a Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein Gene Activated by TaBZR2, Confers Drought Stress Tolerance by Enhancing the Antioxidant Defense System and Promoting Retrograde Signaling in Wheat (Triticum aestivum).The wheat (Triticum aestivum) brassinazole-resistant 2 (TaBZR2) gene is identified as significantly associated with drought tolerance by genome-wide association study (GWAS), and a chloroplast pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein gene TaPPR13 functioned as a positive drought stress regulator downstream of TaBZR2. Overexpression of TaPPR13 enhanced the antioxidative defense system, whereas knockdown of TaPPR13 led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused abnormalities in chloroplast thylakoids under drought stress conditions. RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpression of TaPPR13 significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear-encoded genes involved in ROS scavenging and the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Furthermore, TaPPR13 interacted with TaAOR1 and T2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-03T21:11:44.404Z2026-05-01T03:11:09.999ZS-EPMC124629994058325710.1002/advs.202502984