title: Domain exchange: chimeras of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase, Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and Thermotoga neapolitana DNA polymerase.
abstract: The intervening domain of the thermostable Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (TAQ: polymerase), which has no catalytic activity, has been exchanged for the 3'-5' exonuclease domain of the homologous mesophile Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (E.coli pol I) and the homologous thermostable Thermotoga neapolitana DNA polymerase (TNE: polymerase). Three chimeric DNA polymerases have been constructed using the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the Klenow fragment of the E.coli pol I and 3D models of the intervening and polymerase domains of the TAQ: polymerase and the TNE: polymerase: chimera TaqEc1 (exchange of residues 292-423 from TAQ: polymerase for residues 327-519 of E.coli pol I), chimera TaqTne1 (exchange of residues 292-423 of TAQ: polymerase for residues 295-485 of TNE: polymerase) and chimera TaqTne2 (exchange of residues 292-448 of TAQ: polymerase for residues 295-510 of TNE: polymerase). The chimera TaqEc1 showed characteristics from both parental polymerases at an intermediate temperature of 50 degrees C: high polymerase activity, processivity, 3'-5' exonuclease activity and proof-reading function. In comparison, the chimeras TaqTne1 and TaqTne2 showed no significant 3'-5' exonuclease activity and no proof-reading function. The chimera TaqTne1 showed an optimum temperature at 60 degrees C, decreased polymerase activity compared with the TAQ: polymerase and reduced processivity. The chimera TaqTne2 showed high polymerase activity at 72 degrees C, processivity and less reduced thermostability compared with the chimera TaqTne1.
authors.affiliation: GBF (Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung), Department of Structure Research, Mascheroder Weg 1, Penzberg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Villbrandt
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sobek
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schomburg
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004256:DNA Polymerase I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D016965:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Straight, Curved, and Helical Rods / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019914:Taq Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013824:Thermus / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019914:Taq Polymerase; D004256:DNA Polymerase I; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase