Rice KORPOKKUR gene is expressed in mitotic cells and regulates pleiotropic features during vegetative phase

Cell division is important for organisms to grow and repair damaged tissues. A mutant screen in rice has identified dwarf korpokkur (kor) mutants that code for a novel protein potentially involved in mitosis including cytokinesis in rice. The KOR gene is expressed during the mitotic phase and a defect in the KOR gene induces cells with two nuclei. Analysis of kor mutants suggests that the KOR gene promotes cell division in the rice leaf primordia for a period after initiation, and maintains proper cell morphology especially in non-meristematic tissues. Additionally, kor mutants showed a delayed transition from juvenile phase to adult phase. Future research will shed light on the relationship between the mitotic defect and other features observed in the kor mutants.