RH4 — Sorghum bicolor

Summary

SbRH4 (SORBI_3004G039400) on sorghum chromosome 4 encodes a DEAD-box RNA helicase with RNA helicase activity (EC 3.6.4.13) and translation initiation factor activity. The gene is associated with cytoplasmic translational initiation, tRNA modification, and tRNA wobble adenosine-to-inosine editing. It has been linked to diverse developmental processes including guard mother cell division, asymmetric cell division, pollen tube guidance, meiotic cytokinesis, and regulation of cell cycle G1/S phase transition. Associations with agronomic traits include drought tolerance, nitrate uptake, and multiple growth and development traits affecting roots, leaves, seeds, and the shoot apical meristem. The gene product localises to nuclear speckles, the nucleolus, stress granules, the preprophase band, and the plant-type cell wall. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to grain yield, plant height, anthesis-silking interval, and male gametophyte development.