Encodes a Mitochondrion-Targeted E+-Type Pentatricopeptide Repeat Protein Essential for RNA Editing and Seed Development in Maize.

In flowering plants, RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that selectively deaminates cytidines (C) to uridines (U) in organellar transcripts. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins have been identified as site-specific recognition factors for RNA editing. Here, we report the map-based cloning and molecular characterization of the defective kernel mutant in maize. Loss of function leads to delayed embryogenesis and endosperm development, which produce small and collapsed kernels. encodes an E+-type PPR protein targeted to the mitochondria, which is required for RNA editing of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 3 at the -317 and -44 sites. Biochemical analysis of mitochondrial protein complexes revealed a significant reduction in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase complex I activity, indicating that the alteration of the amino acid sequence at -44 and -317 through RNA editing is essential for NAD3 function. Moreover, the amino acids are highly conserved in monocots and eudicots, whereas the events of C-to-U editing are not conserved in flowering plants. Thus, our results indicate that is essential for RNA editing of , which is critical for NAD3 function, mitochondrial complex I stability, and seed development in maize.