VAR1 — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdVAR1 (BRADI_2G14330V3) on chromosome 2 of Brachypodium distachyon encodes a protein with AAA chloroplast protein-transporting ATPase activity, metallopeptidase activity, and ATP-dependent peptidase activity, belonging to the peptidase M41 and AAA+ ATPase families. The gene is associated with thylakoid membrane organization, chloroplast stroma protein import, mitochondrial biogenesis, and the Ycf2/FtsHi complex. It has been linked to variegated leaf, chloroplast development, photoinhibition sensitivity and tolerance, leaf senescence, heat stress memory, and thermomemory. Associations also include heading time, spikelet number, plant stress responses, herbicide sensitivity, brassinosteroid sensitivity, and auxin content. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to oxidative stress tolerance, shoot apical meristem function, auxin homeostasis, chloroplast development, and ABA responses.