Characterization of the Role of a DNA-Binding Protein on Regulation of DNA Replication in Plant Organelles

Authors

Cynthia Perry, Brigham Young University
Dr. Brent Nielsen, Brigham Young University

Keywords

DNA-binding, DNA replication, plant organelles, Arabidopsis thaliana

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

DNA replication is essential to all life on earth. Not only does replication occur in the nucleus, it also happens in organelles of the cell: the mitochondria and chloroplasts. In higher plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, the genomes in mitochondria encode proteins which are responsible for DNA replication. These proteins also assist with DNA repair and recombination (Edmondson, AC et. al). One protein from the Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondrial genome is particularly of interest in our research: the single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB). The major function of this protein is to keep the two DNA strands separated while they are being replicated. SSB also seems to have additional functions such as mediating assembly of the Rec A complex on DNA (Edmondson, AC et. al). (The Rec A complex is a complex of proteins that functions in DNA recombination as well as repair.)

Recommended Citation

Perry, Cynthia and Nielsen, Dr. Brent (2014) "Characterization of the Role of a DNA-Binding Protein on Regulation of DNA Replication in Plant Organelles," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 790.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/790