VAR1 — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdVAR1 (BRADI_1G29900V3) on chromosome 1 of Brachypodium distachyon encodes a protein with AAA chloroplast protein-transporting ATPase, metallopeptidase, and ATP-dependent peptidase activities, belonging to the peptidase M41 and AAA+ ATPase families. The gene is associated with thylakoid membrane organization, chloroplast stroma protein import, mitochondrial biogenesis, and response to nitric oxide and thermal stimulus. It localizes to the Ycf2/FtsHi complex, M-AAA complex, chloroplast membrane, thylakoid, and stress granules. Associations include variegated leaf, chloroplast development, photoinhibition sensitivity and tolerance, leaf senescence, heat stress memory, heading time, spikelet number, herbicide sensitivity, and brassinosteroid sensitivity. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to oxidative stress tolerance, shoot apical meristem function, organelle development, chloroplast development, and ABA response.