The Arabidopsis homologue of Xrcc3 plays an essential role in meiosis

Abstract

The eukaryotic RecA homologue Rad51 is a key factor in homologous recombination and recombinational repair. Rad51-like proteins have been identified from yeast (Rad55, Rad57 and Dmc1) to vertebrates (Rad51B, Rad51C, Rad51D, Xrcc2, Xrcc3 and Dmc1). These Rad51-like proteins are all members of the genetic recombination and DNA damage repair pathways. The sequenced genome of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes putative homologues of all six vertebrate Rad51-like proteins. We have identified and characterized an Arabidopsis mutant defective for one of these, AtXRCC3, the homologue of XRCC3. atxrcc3 plants are sterile, while they have normal vegetative development. Cytological observation shows that the atxrcc3 mutation does not affect homologous chromosome synapsis, but leads to chromosome fragmentation after pachytene, thus disrupting both male and female gametogenesis. This study shows an essential role for AtXrcc3 in meiosis in plants and possibly in other higher eukaryotes. Furthermore, atxrcc3 cells and plants are hypersensitive to DNA-damaging treatments, supporting the involvement of this Arabidopsis Rad51-like protein in recombinational repair.

The plant‐specific CDKB 1‐ CYCB 1 complex mediates homologous recombination repair in Arabidopsis

“…RAD51 and its homologs build a small gene family in Arabidopsis similar to other eukaryotes (Lin et al , 2006). Previous studies revealed hypersensitivity of mutants in Arabidopsis RAD51 family members to DNA‐cross‐linking agents such as cisplatin and mitomycin C, as seen, for example, by a reduced number of true leaves formed in rad51b and rad51c mutants in comparison with the wild type (Osakabe et al , 2002, 2005; Bleuyard & White, 2004; Abe et al , 2005; Bleuyard et al , 2005; Li et al , 2005; Charbonnel et al , 2010). Consistent with these reports, we found that the root growth of rad51 mutants is impaired in the presence of cisplatin (Fig 5A–C).…”

Replication Protein A (RPA1a) Is Required for Meiotic and Somatic DNA Repair But Is Dispensable for DNA Replication and Homologous Recombination in Rice

“…The osrpa1a Mutants Are Hypersensitive to DNA Mutagens Many mutants of genes related to DNA metabolism are hypersensitive to DNA mutagens such as mitomycin C (MMC), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and UV irradiation (Garcia et al, 2003;Bleuyard and White, 2004;Bleuyard et al, 2005;Waterworth et al, 2007). In yeast and human, RPA is involved extensively in various DNA repair pathways (Wold, 1997;Iftode et al, 1999).…”

Transcriptome analysis of differentiating spermatogonia stimulated with kit ligand

“…logs of Xrcc3 play an essential role in meiosis (Bleuyard and White, 2004), and Xrcc2 is known to be expressed at high levels in the mammalian testis, so a possible role in meiosis for this gene has been postulated (Cartwright et al, 1998). A recent report indicates that Xrcc3 plays a role during meiotic events in the mammalian testis (Liu et al, 2007).…”