This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Plants receive more exposure to the sun than many other organisms. The UV component of sun light produces damage to DNA, resulting in two major photoproducts: one is a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, and the other is a (6-4) photoproduct. To preserve genetic integrity, plants have developed defense systems. Photolyase is a unique system which restores UV-induced damage by using blue light. Plants have two photolyases respectively specific for the two major photoproducts, while bacteria have only one photolyase specific for CPD and mammals have none. Interestingly, plant (6-4) photolyase shows higher similarity to bacterial CPD photolyase in primary structure than plant CPD photolyase. We will apply a structural approach to understand the substrate recognition and repair mechanisms of the plant photolyases.
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