Replication protein A and use

Abstract

Methods and compositions for modulating DNA metabolism are provided. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences encoding a maize replication protein A subunits are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating DNA replication, DNA repair, and recombination.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated protein comprising a polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity over the full-length of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 4, wherein the percent sequence identity is determined by the GAP algorithm under default parameters and wherein the polypeptide enhances homologous recombination as part of an RPA complex.  
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 85% sequence identity over the full-length of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 90% sequence identity over the full-length of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity over the full-length of SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is SEQ ID NOS: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated protein comprising a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3, wherein the polypeptide enhances homologous recombination as part of an RPA complex.  
     
     
         7 . An expression cassette comprising a polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter, wherein the polynucleotide encodes the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8  A host cell comprising the expression cassette of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         9 . A host cell comprising the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The host cell of  claim 9 , wherein the host cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         11 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein the plant cell is from a monocot.  
     
     
         12 . The plant cell of  claim 11 , wherein the monocot is maize, sorghum, rice, barley, millet, rye, or wheat.  
     
     
         13 . The plant cell of  claim 10 , wherein the plant cell is from a dicot.  
     
     
         14 . The plant cell of  claim 13 , wherein the dicot is soybean, canola, alfalfa, sunflower, or safflower.  
     
     
         15 . A plant comprising the host cell of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         16 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein the plant is a monocot.  
     
     
         17 . The plant of  claim 16 , wherein the monocot is maize, sorghum, rice, barley, millet, rye, or wheat.  
     
     
         18 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein the plant is a dicot.  
     
     
         19 . The plant of  claim 18 , wherein the dicot is soybean, canola, alfalfa, sunflower, or safflower.  
     
     
         20 . A seed comprising the host cell of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         21 . The seed of  claim 20 , wherein the seed is from a monocot.  
     
     
         22 . The seed of  claim 21 , wherein the monocot is maize, sorghum, rice, barley, millet, rye, or wheat.  
     
     
         23 . The seed of  claim 20 , wherein the seed is from a dicot.  
     
     
         24 . The seed of  claim 23 , wherein the dicot is soybean, canola, alfalfa, sunflower, or safflower.  
     
     
         25 . An antibody that selectively binds to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         26 . An antibody that selectively binds to an isolated polypeptide comprising at least 20 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4.  
     
     
         27 . An isolated polypeptide wherein: 
 (a) the polypeptide comprises at least 20 contiguous amino acids of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4;    (b) the polypeptide, when presented as an immunogen, elicits the production of an antibody which specifically binds the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4;    (c) the polypeptide does not bind to antisera raised against the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 after the antisera has been fully immunosorbed with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4; and    (d) the polypeptide enhances homologous recombination as part of an RPA complex.