Replication protein A

Patent Pending Replication protein A (RPA) is a protein that binds to single-stranded DNA in eukaryotic cells.[1] During DNA replication, RPA prevents single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from winding back on itself or from forming secondary structures. This keeps DNA unwound for the polymerase to replicate it. RPA also binds to ssDNA during the initial phase of homologous recombination, an important process in DNA repair and prophase I of meiosis.