Plant Physiol. PAM Fluorometers & Gas Exchange
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Plant Physiology Preview
Published on March 23, 2007; 10.1104/pp.107.096214

OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE
This Article
Free via Open Access: OA
Right arrow Full Text (Plant Physiology Preview (PDF))
Right arrow Supplemental Data
Right arrowOA All Versions of this Article:
144/2/821    most recent
pp.107.096214v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Chung, T.
Right arrow Articles by Larkins, B. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Chung, T.
Right arrow Articles by Larkins, B. A.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Chung, T.
Right arrow Articles by Larkins, B. A.

Received January 24, 2007
Accepted March 6, 2007

The Maize Zmsmu2 Gene Encodes a Putative RNA Splicing Factor that Affects Protein Synthesis and RNA Processing during Endosperm Development

Taijoon Chung , Cheol Soo Kim , Hong N. Nguyen , Robert B. Meeley , and Brian A. Larkins *

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a DuPont Company, 7300 NW 62nd Ave., Johnston, IA 50131-1004

* Corresponding author; email: Larkins{at}Ag.Arizona.edu.

We characterized two maize (Zea mays) mutants, zmsmu2-1 and zmsmu2-3, that result from insertion of a Mutator transposable element in the first exon of a gene homologous to the nematode gene, smu-2, which is involved in RNA splicing. In addition to having a starchy endosperm with reduced levels of zein storage proteins, homozygous zmsmu2-1 mutants manifest a number of phenotypes, including defective meristem development. The zmsmu2 mutants have poor seedling viability, and surviving plants are sterile. The gene encoding ZmSMU2 is expressed in the endosperm, embryo and shoot apex, which explains the pleiotropic nature of the mutation. We found that proper expression of Zmsmu2 is required for efficient ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing, ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis in developing endosperm. Based on the pleiotropic nature of the mutations and the known function of animal Zmsmu2 homologues, we propose a possible role for ZmSMU2 in the development of maize endosperm, as well as a mechanism by which mis-regulation of zmsmu2 causes the mutant phenotypes.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
ASPB Publications PLANT PHYSIOLOGY THE PLANT CELL
Copyright © 2007 by the American Society of Plant Biologists