SPCH — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdSPCH (BRADI_1G38650V3) on chromosome 1 of Brachypodium distachyon encodes a FAMA/SPEECHLESS/MUTE-like basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that binds core promoter and cis-regulatory regions, activates transcription, and dimerizes with proteins. It is associated with stomatal lineage progression, guard mother cell differentiation, guard cell differentiation, and stomatal complex development, as well as seed morphogenesis, endosperm development, seed dormancy, and regulation of abscisic acid anabolism. The gene is linked to responses to osmotic stress, low humidity, and freezing, and to ABA signaling. It localizes to both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Associations with temperature stress response, leaf senescence, flowering time, disease tolerance, pollen fertility, and seed growth and development traits have been noted. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to cold tolerance, freezing tolerance, stomatal development, and male fertility.