Map-based cloning of a fertility restorer gene, Rf-1, in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
A rice nuclear gene, Rf-1, restores the pollen fertility disturbed by the BT-type male sterile cytoplasm, and is widely used for commercial seed production of japonica hybrid varieties. Genomic fragments carrying Rf-1 were identified by conducting chromosome walking and a series of complementation tests. Isolation and analysis of cDNA clones corresponding to the fragments demonstrated that Rf-1 encodes a mitochondrially targeted protein containing 16 repeats of the 35-aa pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motif. Sequence analysis revealed that the recessive allele, rf-1, lacks one nucleotide in the putative coding region, presumably resulting in encoding a truncated protein because of a frame shift. Rice Rf-1 is the first restorer gene isolated from cereal crops that has the property of reducing the expression of the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-associated mitochondrial gene like many other restorer genes. The present findings may facilitate not only elucidating the mechanisms of male sterility by the BT cytoplasm and its restoration by Rf-1 but also isolating other restorer genes from cereal crops, especially rice.
Komori
Toshiyuki
T
Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Laboratory, Japan Tobacco Inc., 700 Higashibara, Toyoda, Iwata, Shizuoka 438-0802, Japan. Toshiyuki.Komori@ims.jti.co.jp
Ohta
Shozo
S
Murai
Nobuhiko
N
Takakura
Yoshimitsu
Y
Kuraya
Yoshiki
Y
Suzuki
Shoichi
S
Hiei
Yukoh
Y
Imaseki
Hidemasa
H
Nitta
Naoto
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D016386:Chromosome Walking; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D017931:DNA Primers; D010940:Plant Proteins