Transgenic expression of an unedited mitochondrial orfB gene product from wild abortive (WA) cytoplasm of rice (Oryza sativa L.) generates male sterility in fertile rice lines

Anirban Chakraborty, Joy Mitra, Jagannath Bhattacharyya, Subrata Pradhan, Narattam Sikdar, Srirupa Das, Saikat Chakraborty, Sachin Kumar, Suman Lakhanpaul, Soumitra K. Sen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Main conclusion: Over-expression of the unedited mitochondrialorfBgene product generates male sterility in fertileindicarice lines in a dose-dependent manner. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and nuclear-controlled fertility restoration are widespread developmental features in plant reproductive systems. In self-pollinated crop plants, these processes often provide useful tools to exploit hybrid vigour. The wild abortive CMS has been employed in the majority of the “three-line” hybrid rice production since 1970s. In the present study, we provide experimental evidence for a positive functional relationship between the 1.1-kb unedited orfB gene transcript, and its translated product in the mitochondria with male sterility. The generation of the 1.1-kb unedited orfB gene transcripts increased during flowering, resulting in low ATP synthase activity in sterile plants. Following insertion of the unedited orfB gene into the genome of male-fertile plants, the plants became male sterile in a dose-dependent manner with concomitant reduction of ATPase activity of F1F0-ATP synthase (complex V). Fertility of the transgenic lines and normal activity of ATP synthase were restored by down-regulation of the unedited orfB gene expression through RNAi-mediated silencing. The genetic elements deciphered in this study could further be tested for their use in hybrid rice development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1463-1479
Number of pages17
JournalPlanta
Volume241
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

Keywords

  • FF-ATP synthase
  • Hybrid seed production
  • Mitochondrial RNA editing
  • Mitochondrial orfB (mt-orfB) gene
  • Transgenic male-sterile plant
  • Wild abortive cytoplasmic male sterility (WA-CMS)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Plant Science

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