Transient expression of RAD51 in the late G2-phase is required for cell cycle progression in synchronous Physarum cells.

Abstract

The homologous recombination factor RAD51 is highly conserved. This criterion enabled us to identify a RAD51 ortholog in Physarum polycephalum. We found that the Physarum protein presents a high homology to the human protein and cross-reacted with antibodies directed against the human RAD51. Taking advantage of the natural synchrony of millions of nuclei within a single cell of Physarum, we investigated the fluctuation of the amount of the PpRAD51 throughout the cell cycle. Our results showed that in the late G2-phase, RAD51 was transiently expressed in a large quantity. Furthermore, knocking-down RAD51 in the G2-phase abolished this transient expression before mitosis and affected cell cycle progression. These results support the idea that RAD51 plays a role in the progression of the cell cycle in the late G2-phase.