Chloroplast-Localized Protein, OsAL7, with Two Elongation Factor Thermostable Domains Is Essential for Normal Chloroplast Development and Seedling Longevity in Oryza sativa

Chloroplast development is crucial for the growth and development of higher plants. In this study, we explored the role of a newly identified factor in this process by using the rice <i>albino leaf 7</i> (<i>al7</i>) mutant, characterized by an albino phenotype and lethality after the three-leaf stage. Phenotypic analysis indicated that the <i>al7</i> mutant exhibited a decreased chlorophyll content and impaired chloroplast development. Using the MutMap+ method, complementation tests, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we identified that a mutation in the <i>OsAL7</i> gene is responsible for the lethal albino phenotype. <i>OsAL7</i> encodes a chloroplast-localized protein featuring two elongation factor thermostable (EF-Ts) domains and is expressed ubiquitously across various rice tissues. Deletion of the EF-Ts domains led to defective chloroplast development and albino lethality in seedlings. Moreover, the expression levels of nuclear and plastid genes related to chloroplast development were substantially altered in the <i>al7</i> mutant. In conclusion, our findings highlight the key role played by <i>OsAL7</i> in the development of chloroplasts and survival of rice seedlings.