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O s ARG encodes an arginase that plays critical roles in panicle development and grain production in rice
Author(s) -
Ma Xuefeng,
Cheng Zhijun,
Qin Ruizhen,
Qiu Yang,
Heng Yueqin,
Yang Hui,
Ren Yulong,
Wang Xiaole,
Bi Jingcui,
Ma Xiaoding,
Zhang Xin,
Wang Jiulin,
Lei Cailin,
Guo Xiuping,
wang Jie,
Wu Fuqing,
Jiang Ling,
Wang Haiyang,
Wan Jianmin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2012.05122.x
Subject(s) - panicle , mutant , arginase , arginine , oryza sativa , biology , wild type , biochemistry , storage protein , gene , amino acid , agronomy
Summary Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for plant growth and development. Arginine is considered to be an important amino acid for nitrogen transport and storage, playing a crucial role during plant seedling development. However, little is known about the role of arginine in nitrogen remobilization at the reproductive stage. We isolated a rice mutant nglf‐1 with reduced plant height, small panicle and grain size, and low seed‐setting rate (10% in nglf‐1 compared to 93% in wild‐type). Map‐based cloning revealed that the mutant phenotype was caused by loss of function of a gene ( O s ARG ) encoding an arginine hydrolysis enzyme, which is consistent with arginine accumulation in the mutant. The phenotype was partially corrected supplying exogenous nitrogen, and fully corrected by expression of a wild‐type O s ARG transgene. Over‐expression of O s ARG in rice (cv. Kitaake) increased grain number per plant under nitrogen‐limited conditions. O s ARG was ubiquitously expressed in various organs, but most strongly in developing panicles. The O s ARG protein was localized in the mitochondria, consistent with other arginases. Our results suggest that the arginase encoded by O s ARG , a key enzyme in Arg catabolism, plays a critical role during panicle development, especially under conditions of insufficient exogenous nitrogen. O s ARG is a potential target for crop improvement.