RCA — Arabidopsis thaliana

Summary

AT2G39730, known as RCA or RUBISCO ACTIVASE, encodes a rubisco activator with ATP hydrolase activity, belonging to the AAA ATPase family and also annotated with histone acetyltransferase activity and double-stranded methylated DNA binding. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this gene is associated with photosynthesis, including photosynthetic electron transport, CO2 fixation, light activation of Rubisco, and thermotolerance of photosynthesis. It is linked to seed yield, seed weight, oil content, biomass, plant growth, leaf senescence, and responses to high temperature stress and light intensity. The encoded protein localizes to the chloroplast stroma, thylakoid membrane, and stromule, and is associated with chloroplast fission, protein import, and starch breakdown. Studies of related genes in other species link the RCA family to chilling stress response, water use efficiency, and chlorophyll content.