Genome-wide analysis of the rice PPR gene family and their expression profiles under different stress treatments.

We found 491 PPR genes in the rice genome, and our genes structure analysis and syntenic analysis indicated that PPR genes might be derived from amplification by retro-transposition. The expression pattern present here suggested that PPR proteins have crucial roles in response to different abiotic stresses in rice. Taken together, our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PPR gene family and will facilitate further studies on their roles in rice growth and development.