A plant homologue of 36 kDa subunit of replication factor C: molecular cloning and characterization

We have isolated a 1.47 kb cDNA from rice (Oryza sativa) encoding plant homologue of a small subunit of Replication Factor C (RFC), and designated OsRFC3. The open reading frame of OsRFC3 encoded a predicted product of 367 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 40.3 kDa. Genomic analysis indicated that the subunit existed as a single copy per genome. The transcript was highly expressed in root tips that contain root apical meristem, and the young and mature leaves. The mRNA level of OsRFC3 was significantly reduced when the cell proliferation was temporarily halted by removal of;sucrose from the growth medium. When the growth-halted cells began to re-grow following addition of sucrose to the medium, OsRFC3 was again expressed at high level. The roles of OsRFC3 in plant DNA replication is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.