Mutation of the rice ASL2 gene encoding plastid ribosomal protein L21 causes chloroplast developmental defects and seedling death. (1st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, D.; Jiang, Q.; Zheng, K.; Chen, S.; Zhou, H.; Gong, X.; Xu, J.; Teng, S.; Dong, Y.; Sugita, M.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 17:Number 3(2015:May)
• Page Start: 599
• Page End: 607
• Publication Date: 2014-12-01
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12271
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="plb12271-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The plastid ribosome proteins (PRPs) play important roles in plastid protein biosynthesis, chloroplast differentiation and early chloroplast development. However, the specialised functions of individual protein components of the chloroplast ribosome in rice (<italic>Oryza sativa</italic>) remain unresolved. In this paper, we identified a novel rice PRP mutant named <italic>asl2</italic> (<italic>Albino seedling lethality 2</italic>) exhibiting an albino, seedling death phenotype. In <italic>asl2</italic> mutants, the alteration of leaf colour was associated with chlorophyll (Chl) content and abnormal chloroplast development. Through map‐based cloning and complementation, the mutated <italic>ASL2</italic> gene was isolated and found to encode the chloroplast 50S ribosome protein L21 (RPL21c), a component of the chloroplast ribosome large subunit, which was localised in chloroplasts. <italic>ASL2</italic> was expressed at a higher level in the plumule and leaves, implying its tissue‐specific expression. Additionally, the expression of <italic>ASL2</italic> was regulated by light. The transcript levels of the majority of genes for Chl biosynthesis, photosynthesis and chloroplast development were strongly affected in <italic>asl2</italic> mutants. Collectively, the absence of functional <italic>ASL2</italic> caused chloroplast developmental defects and seedling death. This report establishes the important role of <italic>RPL21c</italic> in chloroplast development in rice.</p> </abstract>