title: A reexamination of the role of the RAD52 gene in spontaneous mitotic recombination.
abstract: The RAD52 gene is required for much of the recombination that occurs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One of the two commonly utilized mutant alleles, rad52-2, increases rather than reduces mitotic recombination, yet in other respects appears to be a typical rad52 mutant allele. This raises the question as to whether RAD52 is really necessary for mitotic recombination. Analysis of a deletion/insertion allele created in vitro indicates that the null mutant phenotype is indeed a deficiency in mitotic recombination, especially in gene conversion. The data also indicate that RAD52 is required for crossing-over between at least some chromosomes. Finally, examination of the behavior of a replicating plasmid in rad52-1 strains indicates that the frequency of plasmid integration is substantially reduced from that in wild type, a conclusion consistent with a role for RAD52 in reciprocal crossing-over. Analysis of recombinants arising in rad52-2 strains suggests that this allele may result in the increased activity of a RAD52-independent recombinational pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Montelone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D004171:Diploidy; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D008938:Mitosis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*