InterPro domain: IPR044673

Defective chloroplasts and leaves protein (DCL), first identified in tomato, is a small protein that plays a role in the early stage of chloroplast development and palisade cell morphogenesis 1 , 2 ]. It is required for correct plastid ribosome assembly and for processing and maturation of 4.5S rRNA [ 2 ]. This entry includes DCL from Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) and its orthologue from Arabidopsis [ 3 ]. Also included in this entry is the Protein EMBRYO DEFECTIVE 514 (also known as DOMINO1) from Arabidopsis thaliana, which is involved in ribosome biogenesis and in a process essential for nuclear and nucleolar functions. It shares high sequence similarities with DCL proteins [ 4 ].

1. The DCL gene of tomato is required for chloroplast development and palisade cell morphogenesis in leaves. EMBO J 15, 4208-17
2. DCL is a plant-specific protein required for plastid ribosomal RNA processing and embryo development. Plant Mol Biol 53, 531-43
3. Altered expression of the Arabidopsis ortholog of DCL affects normal plant development. Planta 219, 819-26
4. DOMINO1, a member of a small plant-specific gene family, encodes a protein essential for nuclear and nucleolar functions. Plant J 39, 809-20