DNA polymerase ? - a novel DNA repair enzyme in higher plant genome

DNA polymerase lambda (Pol ?) is a novel family X DNA polymerase which has been shown to play key role in nuclear DNA repair and meiotic recombination. Recent studies in mammals support function of this enzyme in base excision repair in response to oxidative DNA damage. However, in plants the biological function of Pol ? in oxidative stress response is still largely unknown. This review will survey recent advances in our understanding of role of Pol ? in repair of oxidative DNA damages and its possible potential involvement in plant’s base excision repair (BER) pathway in response to oxidative stress