Abstract
We have identified two recA homologue genes in the cDNA database of the moss Physcomitrella patens and named it PprecA1 and PprecA2 (Physcomitrella patens recA). The PpRecA2 protein is targeted to chloroplast. PprecA2 complements a recA deletion in E.coli and is upregulated by DNA-damaging reagents. PprecA2 null mutant exhibits slow growth rate, a reduction of chloroplast DNA copy number and a low photosynthetic rate under genotoxic stress. The efficiency of gene targeting into the chloroplast genome in PprecA2 null mutant was lower than that in the wild type strain. These results suggest an important role of PprecA2 in homologous recombination and repair in P.patens chloroplast DNA.
