Nuclear PPR Proteins Mediate Rhythmic C-To-U Editing of Mitochondrial RNA in Maize and Rice.

In maize (Zea mays), over 75% of PPR genes show rhythmic expression that shifts with light, and mitochondrial mRNA C-to-U editing displays rhythmic variation linked to these genes’ timing.

• Why it matters: Mitochondrial energy production must match environmental and internal cues, but how nuclear signals coordinate mitochondrial RNA processing is largely unclear.
• What they did: The study analyzed nucleus–mitochondria crosstalk by measuring rhythmic PPR gene expression under different light conditions and profiling mitochondrial RNA editing efficiency across the day in maize and rice (Oryza sativa).
• The result: Editing sites with rhythmic variation were identified, with many sites predicted to affect protein function by AlphaFold2, and the editing peak phase lagged behind PPR expression, supporting tight temporal coupling.

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