RNase H1C collaborates with ssDNA binding proteins WHY1/3 and recombinase RecA1 to fulfill the DNA damage repair in Arabidopsis chloroplasts.

ABSTRACT: Proper repair of damaged DNA is crucial for genetic integrity and organismal survival. As semi-autonomous organelles, plastids have their own genomes whose integrity must be preserved. Several factors have been shown to participate in plastid DNA damage repair; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we elucidate a mechanism of homologous recombination (HR) repair in chloroplasts that involves R-loops. We find that the recombinase RecA1 forms filaments in chloroplasts during HR repair, but aggregates as puncta when RNA:DNA hybrids accumulate. ssDNA-binding proteins WHY1/3 and chloroplast RNase H1 AtRNH1C are recruited to the same genomic sites to promote HR repair. Depletion of AtRNH1C or WHY1/3 significantly suppresses the binding of RNA polymerase to the damaged DNA, thu

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8266629 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature