Rad50 polypeptides

Abstract

The invention provides isolated Rad50 nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering Rad50 levels in plants. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, transgenic plants, and antibody compositions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity over the entire length of SEQ ID NO: 2 as determined by the GAP program under default parameters, wherein the amino acid sequence encodes a polypeptide that binds to a MRE11 polypeptide.  
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 85% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence has at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polypeptide wherein: 
 (a) the isolated polypeptide comprises at least 20 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (b) the isolated polypeptide, when presented as an immunogen, elicits the production of an antibody which specifically binds to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; and    (c) the isolated polypeptide does not bind to antisera raised against the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 after the antisera has been fully immunosorbed with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.    
     
     
         7 . An isolated protein comprising a full-length polypeptide comprising at least 30 contiguous amino acids from the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the polypeptide binds a MRE11 polypeptide.