Characterization, Expression, and Interaction Analyses of OsMORF Gene Family in Rice.

Qiang Zhang,Zhenyu Gao,Deyong Ren,Dali Zeng,Jiang Hu,Lan Shen,Longbiao Guo,Guangheng Zhang,Qian Qian,Guang Chen,Li Zhu

doi:10.3390/genes10090694

Abstract

The multiple organellar RNA editing factors (MORF) gene family plays a key role in organelle RNA editing in flowering plants. MORF genes expressions are also affected by abiotic stress. Although seven OsMORF genes have been identified in rice, few reports have been published on their expression patterns in different tissues and under abiotic stress, and OsMORF–OsMORF interactions. In this study, we analyzed the gene structure of OsMORF family genes. The MORF family members were divided into six subgroups in different plants based on phylogenetic analysis. Seven OsMORF genes were highly expressed in leaves. Six and seven OsMORF genes expressions were affected by cold and salt stresses, respectively. OsMORF–OsMORF interaction analysis indicated that OsMORF1, OsMORF8a, and OsMORF8b could each interact with themselves to form homomers. Moreover, five OsMORF proteins were shown to be able to interact with each other, such as OsMORF8a and OsMORF8b interacting with OsMORF1 and OsMORF2b, respectively, to form heteromers. These results provide information for further study of OsMORF gene function.

Highlights

RNA editing occurs mainly in plastids and mitochondria of flowering plants and plays a key role in post-transcriptional regulation [1]
The results of gene sequence-structure analysis showed that the OsMORF genes have three to five exons (Figure 2A), the coding sequences (CDSs) of OsMORF genes range from 498 to 1197 bp (Figure 2A), the proteins encoded by the OsMORF genes are 165–398 aa (Figure 2B), and the molecular weights of these proteins are in the range of 24.70–43.31 kDa
Our results indicate that OsMORF1, OsMORF8a, and OsMORF8b could could only grow on SD-T/L medium (Figure 6)

Summary

Introduction

RNA editing occurs mainly in plastids and mitochondria of flowering plants and plays a key role in post-transcriptional regulation [1]. RNA editing is relatively conserved among flowering plants, with types of base conversion including A-to-I, U-to-C, and C-to-U [2]. Among these conversions, the predominant form in plastids and the mitochondria is C-to-U [2,3]. Previous studies showed that there are 30–40 and 400–500 C-to-U conserved RNA editing sites in chloroplasts and mitochondria, respectively, in flowering plants [1,4]. The RNA editing sites are recognized by trans-regulatory elements, followed by the catalysis of base conversion [1,3]. The trans-regulatory elements include organelle RNA recognition motif proteins (ORRM), organelle zinc-finger proteins (OZ), protoporphyrinogen oxidase 1 (PPO1), pentatricopeptide repeat proteins (PPR), multiple organellar

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Discussion

Conclusion