PPR蛋白在玉米子粒发育中的研究进展

PPR蛋白在真核生物中广泛存在，是最大的蛋白家族之一。该蛋白由一系列重复单位(形成两个反向平行的α螺旋)串联而成。PPR蛋白可与RNA特异性结合，参与细胞器RNA的加工和编辑。玉米中有约521个PPR蛋白成员，他们在子粒发育、叶片发育及胁迫响应等生物学过程中发挥重要作用，但多数分子功能尚未被鉴定。另外，PPR蛋白编码基因的突变体大多导致发育异常表型，如发育迟缓、子粒缺陷、叶色异常等。

Research Progress for Functions of PPR Proteins during Maize Kernel Development

PPR proteins existed widely in eukaryote,and they are one of the largest families of proteins.PPR proteins are often composed of a series of repeating units (forming two reverse parallel alpha spirals).PPR proteins can be bind to RNA and take participation in the processing and editing of organelle RNA.In maize,there are approximately 521 PPR protein members,which play an important role in biological processes such as kernel development,leaf development and stress response,but the most molecular functions have not been identified.Moreover,most of the mutants of PPR protein coding genes lead to developmental abnormalities,such as developmental retardation,kernel defects,leaf color abnormality and so on.