Activity of DNA polymerase λ in spikelets of rice and maize

Abstract

Involvement of DNA polymerase (pol) enzymes in meiotic DNA repair has not been clearly understood in plants. DNA polymerase λ is involved in short patch DNA synthesis and base excision repair in both plants and animals. The presence and activity of the pol λ enzyme was studied in a protein isolated from spikelets during flower development stages of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Western blot analysis showed a 2- to 2.5-fold higher accumulation of pol λ in spikelets than in shoots. Assays of pol and in-gel activity showed the dideoxynucleotide triphosphate sensitive pol λ enzyme in spikelets of both the plants. An enhanced presence of the enzyme and its high activity suggests an active role of pol λ in meiotic recombination during microspore development.

Keywords

• dna repair
• in-gel activity assay
• meiosis
• oryza sativa
• zea mays