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Mutation of the rice ASL 2 gene encoding plastid ribosomal protein L21 causes chloroplast developmental defects and seedling death
Author(s) -
Lin D.,
Jiang Q.,
Zheng K.,
Chen S.,
Zhou H.,
Gong X.,
Xu J.,
Teng S.,
Dong Y.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12271
Subject(s) - chloroplast , biology , plastid , complementation , mutant , ribosomal protein , oryza sativa , gene , genetics , chloroplast dna , nuclear gene , seedling , ribosome , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genome , rna
Abstract The plastid ribosome proteins ( PRP s) 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 ( Oryza sativa ) remain unresolved. In this paper, we identified a novel rice PRP mutant named asl2 ( Albino seedling lethality 2 ) exhibiting an albino, seedling death phenotype. In asl2 mutants, the alteration of leaf colour was associated with chlorophyll (Chl) content and abnormal chloroplast development. Through map‐based cloning and complementation, the mutated ASL 2 gene was isolated and found to encode the chloroplast 50S ribosome protein L21 ( RPL 21c), a component of the chloroplast ribosome large subunit, which was localised in chloroplasts. ASL 2 was expressed at a higher level in the plumule and leaves, implying its tissue‐specific expression. Additionally, the expression of ASL 2 was regulated by light. The transcript levels of the majority of genes for Chl biosynthesis, photosynthesis and chloroplast development were strongly affected in asl2 mutants. Collectively, the absence of functional ASL 2 caused chloroplast developmental defects and seedling death. This report establishes the important role of RPL 21c in chloroplast development in rice.