Isolation of HRD3 gene, a homologous RAD3 gene from fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The RAD3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is required for excision repair and is essential for cell viability. RAD3 encoded protein possesses a single stranded DNA-dependent ATPase and DNA-RNA helicase activies. To examine the extent of conservation of structure and function of RAD3 during eukaryotic evolution, we have cloned the RAD3 homolog, HRD3, from the distantly related yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here, we report the partial cloning and characterization of HRD3 gene (Homologous of RAD3 gene) which was isolated by PCR amplification using conserved domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3 gene. Chromosomal DNA isolated from S. pombe had similar restriction patterns to those from S. cerevisiae, as determined by Southern blot analysis. The 2. 8 kb transcript of mRNA was identified by Northern hybridization. The level of transcript did not increase upon UV-irradiation, suggesting that the HRD3 gene in S. pombe is not UV-inducible.