The maize mTERF18 regulates transcriptional termination of the mitochondrial <i>nad6</i> gene and is essential for kernel development

Zhengwei Guan; Yong Wang; Jun Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.001

Volume 52 Issue 3

Mar. 2025

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The maize mTERF18 regulates transcriptional termination of the mitochondrial nad6 gene and is essential for kernel development

doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.001

a. National Engineering Laboratory of Crop Stress Resistance, College of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China;
b. Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China

Funds:

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000304), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32222060), and Anhui Agricultural University (RC422404) to J.Y.

Received Date: 2024-09-29
Accepted Date: 2025-01-03
Rev Recd Date: 2025-01-03

Available Online: 2025-07-11

Publish Date: 2025-01-09

Abstract

Abstract

Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles present in eukaryotic cells, containing their own genome and transcriptional machinery. However, their functions are intricately linked to proteins encoded by the nuclear genome. Mitochondrial transcription termination factors (mTERFs) are nucleic acid-binding proteins involved in RNA splicing and transcription termination within plant mitochondria and chloroplasts. Despite their recognized importance, the specific roles of mTERF proteins in maize remain largely unexplored. Here, we clone and functionally characterize the maize mTERF18 gene. Our findings reveal that mTERF18 mutations lead to severely undifferentiated embryos, resulting in abortive phenotypes. Early kernel exhibits abnormal basal endosperm transfer layer and a significant reduction in both starch and protein accumulation in mterf18. We identify the mTERF18 gene through mapping-based cloning and validate this gene through allelic tests. mTERF18 is widely expressed across various maize tissues and encodes a highly conserved mitochondrial protein. Transcriptome data reveal that mTERF18 mutations disrupt transcriptional termination of the nad6 gene, leading to undetectable levels of Nad6 protein and reduced complex I assembly and activity. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy observation of mterf18 endosperm uncover severe mitochondrial defects. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical role of mTERF18 in mitochondrial gene transcription termination and its pivotal impact on maize kernel development.
- mTERF18,
- Mitochondria,
- Zea mays,
- Transcriptional termination,
- Kernel development,
- Nad6

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