Sustained active site rigidity during synthesis by human DNA polymerase μ.
DNA polymerase μ (Pol μ) is the only template-dependent human DNA polymerase capable of repairing double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) with unpaired 3' ends in nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). To probe this function, we structurally characterized Pol μ's catalytic cycle for single-nucleotide incorporation. These structures indicate that, unlike other template-dependent DNA polymerases, Pol μ shows no large-scale conformational changes in protein subdomains, amino acid side chains or DNA upon dNTP binding or catalysis. Instead, the only major conformational change is seen earlier in the catalytic cycle, when the flexible loop 1 region repositions upon DNA binding. Pol μ variants with changes in loop 1 have altered catalytic properties and are partially defective in NHEJ. The results indicate that specific loop 1 residues contribute to Pol μ's unique ability to catalyze template-dependent NHEJ of DSBs with unpaired 3' ends.
Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Andrea F
AF
Moon
Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
John M
JM
Pryor
Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Dale A
DA
Ramsden
1] Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. [2] Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Thomas A
TA
Kunkel
1] Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. [2] Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Katarzyna
K
Bebenek
Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
Lars C
LC
Pedersen
D002384:Catalysis; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004260:DNA Repair; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009154:Mutation; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D009711:Nucleotides; C407743:DNA polymerase mu; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase