title: Mismatch extension ability of yeast and human DNA polymerase eta.
abstract: DNA polymerase eta (Poleta) functions in error-free replication of UV-damaged DNA, and in vitro it efficiently bypasses a cis-syn T-T dimer by incorporating two adenines opposite the lesion. Steady state kinetic studies have shown that both yeast and human Poleta are low-fidelity enzymes, and they misincorporate nucleotides with a frequency of 10(-2)-10(-3) on both undamaged and T-T dimer-containing DNA templates. To better understand the role of Poleta in error-free translesion DNA synthesis, here we examine the ability of Poleta to extend from base mismatches. We find that both yeast and human Poleta extend from mismatched base pairs with a frequency of approximately 10(-3) relative to matched base pairs. In the absence of efficient extension of mismatched primer termini, the ensuing dissociation of Poleta from DNA may favor the excision of mismatched nucleotides by a proofreading exonuclease. Thus, we expect DNA synthesis by Poleta to be more accurate than that predicted from the fidelity of nucleotide incorporation alone.
authors.affiliation: Sealy Center for Molecular Science, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1061, USA.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prakash
mesh_terms: D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology*; D000099270:Y-Family DNA Polymerases
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; C112338:Rad30 protein; D000099270:Y-Family DNA Polymerases