PPR — Cicer arietinum

Summary

LOC101492866 (CaPPR) on chickpea chromosome 4 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein with endonuclease activity and binding capabilities for pre-rRNA, single-stranded RNA, mRNA, and identical proteins. The protein localizes to chloroplast stroma, mitochondria, and cytoplasm. CaPPR is associated with chloroplast and mitochondrial RNA processing, including mRNA cis-splicing via the spliceosome, group II intron splicing, mRNA stabilization, and positive regulation of translation. It is linked to photosystem I assembly and the MAD biological process. Agronomically, CaPPR has been connected to pod number, seed weight, and plant height. Studies of related PPR proteins in other species link the family to seed size, drought tolerance, pollen fertility, cytoplasmic male sterility, and heterosis, though these associations are not yet established in chickpea.