Effects of (-)-2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) 5'-triphosphate on human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase and mammalian DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma

(-)-2'-Deoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) is a selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro (J. A. V. Coates, N. Cammack, H. J. Jenkinson, A. J. Jowett, M. I. Jowett, B. A. Pearson, C. R. Penn, P. L. Rouse, K. C. Viner, and J. M. Cameron, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 36:733-739, 1992). The effect of 3TC 5'-triphosphate on both the RNA-dependent and DNA-dependent activities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma from HeLa cells was investigated. 3TC 5'-triphosphate is a competitive inhibitor (with respect to dCTP) of the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity (apparent Ki = 10.6 +/- 1.0 to 1.24 +/- 5.1 microM, depending on the template and primer used); the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity is 50% inhibited by a 3TC 5'-triphosphate concentration of 23.4 +/- 2.5 microM when dCTP is present at a concentration equal to its Km value. Chain elongation studies show that 3TC 5'-triphosphate is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA and that transcription is terminated in a manner identical to that found for ddCTP. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of 3TC 5'-triphosphate against DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma at concentrations of dCTP equal to the Km were 175 +/- 31, 24.8 +/- 10.9, and 43.8 +/- 16.4 microM, respectively. More detailed kinetic studies with 3TC 5'-triphosphate and DNA polymerases beta and gamma are consistent with the fact that inhibition of these enzymes by 3TC 5'-triphosphate is competitive with respect to dCTP. The values of Ki were determined to be 18.7 microM for DNA polymerase beta and 15.8 +/- 0.8 microM for DNA polymerase gamma.

Protein affinity chromatography with purified yeast DNA polymerase alpha detects proteins that bind to DNA polymerase

We have overexpressed the POL1 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and purified the resulting DNA polymerase alpha polypeptide in an apparently intact form. We attached the purified DNA polymerase covalently to an agarose matrix and used this matrix to chromatograph extracts prepared from yeast cells. At least six proteins bound to the yeast DNA polymerase alpha matrix that did not bind to a control matrix. We speculate that these proteins might be DNA polymerase alpha accessory proteins. Consistent with this interpretation, one of the binding proteins, which we have named POB1 (polymerase one binding), is required for normal chromosome transmission. Mutations in this gene cause increased chromosome loss and an abnormal cell morphology, phenotypes that also occur in the presence of mutations in the yeast alpha or delta polymerase genes. These results suggest that the interactions detected by polymerase affinity chromatography are biologically relevant and may help to illuminate the architecture of the eukaryotic DNA replication machinery.

Aphidicolin inhibits DNA polymerizing activity but not nucleolytic activity of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase II

We have purified the DNA polymerase II of Escherichia coli from the recombinant strain carrying the plasmid which encodes the polB gene. We confirmed that the purified protein, of molecular weight 90,000, possesses a 3'----5' exonuclease activity in addition to DNA polymerizing activity in a single polypeptide. Its DNA polymerizing activity was sensitive to the drug aphidicoline, which is a specific and direct inhibitor of the alpha-like DNA polymerases including eukaryotic replicative DNA polymerases. Aphidicolin had no detectable effect on the 3'----5' exonuclease activity. The inhibition by aphidicolin on the polymerizing activity of polymerase II was competitive with respect to dNTP and uncompetitive with respect to template DNA. This mode of action is the same as that on eukaryotic DNA polymerase alpha. The apparent Ki value calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plots was 55.6 microM.

DNA polymerase II, the probable homolog of mammalian DNA polymerase epsilon, replicates chromosomal DNA in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two temperature-sensitive DNA polymerase II mutants (pol2-9 and pol2-18) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated by the plasmid shuffling method. DNA polymerase II activity partially purified from both mutants was thermolabile, while DNA polymerase I and III activities remained thermotolerant. At the restrictive temperature, the pol2 mutants were defective in chromosomal DNA replication and exhibited the dumbbell terminal morphology typical of DNA replication mutants. The POL2 transcript accumulated periodically during the cell cycle, peaking at the G1/S boundary in the same manner as the transcripts of more than 10 other DNA replication genes. These results indicate that DNA polymerase II participates in nuclear DNA replication. The similarities in structure and activities between the DNA polymerases of yeast and mammals make it likely that mammalian DNA polymerase epsilon too is required for chromosomal DNA replication.

Isolation of DNA polymerase alpha from germinated wheat embryos

DNA polymerase alpha from germinated wheat embryos was purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, followed by phosphocellulose and heparin Sepharose columns. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was more than 60,000 units/mg. It belongs to the alpha-type according to the large molecular mass, high sensitivity to NEM, aphidicoline, 200 mM KCl, low sensitivity to ethidium bromide and the absence of inhibition by ddTTP. DNA polymerase alpha consists of four subunits as shown by SDS-PAGE and seems to be homogeneous under non-denaturing conditions.

Murine cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase: purification, characterization and role in the antiviral activity of acyclovir

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) neither induces a viral thymidine kinase (TK) nor enhances the activity of a cellular TK. Nevertheless, MCMV is highly susceptible to 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir, ACV). The cellular TK is neither responsible for phosphorylation of ACV nor its anti-MCMV activity. This is clear from the findings that little ACV triphosphate is formed in MCMV-infected mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) and that the replication of MCMV is inhibited equally well by ACV in TK+ and TK- cells. Even if trace amounts of ACV triphosphate would be formed by enzymes other than TK, and ACV triphosphate would be responsible for the anti-MCMV activity of ACV, then the MCMV DNA polymerase ought to be highly sensitive to ACV triphosphate. To examine this possibility, the MCMV DNA polymerase was partially purified and characterized. The apparent Ki value of the MCMV DNA polymerase for ACV triphosphate indicates that the sensitivity of the MCMV DNA polymerase to ACV triphosphate is equivalent to that of the HSV DNA polymerase. Therefore, the trace amounts of ACV triphosphate that are formed in MCMV-infected MEF seem to be insufficient to inhibit MCMV DNA polymerase and may not play a key role in the anti-MCMV activity of ACV.

Catalytic subunit of human DNA polymerase alpha overproduced from baculovirus-infected insect cells. Structural and enzymological characterization

The human DNA polymerase alpha catalytic polypeptide has been functionally overexpressed by a recombinant baculovirus in insect cells at greater than 1000-fold higher levels than that found in cultured normal human cells. The recombinant polymerase alpha protein is translated from its natural translation start codon under the control of the baculovirus polyhedron promoter producing a protein of 180 kDa, identical in size to that isolated from cultured human cells. This recombinant polymerase alpha is phosphorylated and reactive to a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the native polymerase alpha-primase complex and to polyclonal antisera against N- and C-terminal peptides of the polymerase alpha catalytic polypeptide. The recombinant enzyme was immunopurified from insect cells as a single polypeptide. The single subunit recombinant polymerase alpha has no detectable 3'-5' exonuclease activity. The Km for primer-template and dNTP, reactivity to inhibitors, N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-dGTP (BuPdGTP) and aphidicolin, thermosensitivity, and DNA synthetic processivity and fidelity of the recombinant polymerase alpha are identical to that observed with the four-subunit polymerase alpha-primase complex immunopurified from cultured human cells. These results strongly suggest that the presence of the other subunits, (the p70 and the two primase subunits, p48 and p58), does not influence kinetic parameters of polymerase alpha catalysis, sensitivity to inhibitors, or DNA synthetic fidelity and processivity.

Developmental expression of the embryonic chicken brain DNA polymerase alpha and its binding with monoclonal antibodies against human KB cell DNA polymerase alpha

Changes in DNA polymerase alpha activity accompanying tissue development have been well established in several systems. In most cases, DNA polymerase alpha activity decreases with development. Here, we report observed changes in DNA polymerase alpha activity throughout embryonic chicken brain (ECB) development. The level of DNA polymerase alpha activity was found to gradually decrease by 60% (2.3 to 0.8 nmol of [3H]dCMP incorporated/mg protein/h) between 9- and 19-day-old ECB. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of DNA polymerase alpha utilizing monoclonal antibody SJK 237-71 (human KB cell DNA pol-alpha binder) also demonstrated a gradual decrease (up to 60%) of antigen over this same range of development. Analysis of DNA polymerase alpha from 11- and 19-day-old ECB by a 10 to 30% glycerol density gradient revealed a high molecular weight peak sedimenting near catalase (11.3 S) with activity at the 11th day being approximately 3-fold greater than activity at the 19th day. A Western immunoblot analysis utilizing monoclonal antibody SJK 237-71 (against human KB cell DNA polymerase alpha) showed a decrease in DNA polymerase alpha from 186 kilodaltons in 9- and 11-day ECB cell-free extracts to 120 kilodaltons in extracts from 13- to 19-day ECB. The conversion of DNA polymerase alpha from a higher to a lower molecular weight form may be a regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic DNA replication.

Immunoaffinity-purified DNA polymerase alpha from a mouse temperature-sensitive mutant, tsFT20 strain, is heat-labile

We have purified DNA polymerase alpha from a temperature-sensitive mutant cell line of mouse FM3A cells, tsFT20, that shows temperature-sensitive activity of DNA polymerase alpha (Murakami, Y., Yasuda, H., Miyazawa, H., Hanaoka, F., and Yamada, M. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 1761-1765). The purified enzyme was composed of two polypeptides with the same apparent molecular weights as those of purified DNA polymerase alpha from the parental strain, FM3A (Mr 180,000 and 68,000). Heat inactivation experiments revealed that this purified DNA polymerase alpha from tsFT20 cells was more heat-labile than the wild-type enzyme. We have also purified primase from both ts-FT20 cells and wild-type cells. Both primase fractions consist of two polypeptides with molecular weights of 54,000 and 46,000. No difference was observed between the heat labilities of the primases from tsFT20 cells and wild-type cells. Comparisons of wild-type and mutant polymerase indicated that the temperature-sensitive mutation in DNA polymerase alpha from tsFT20 cells affect the dCTP-binding site of the enzyme. The mutation also changed the optimum pH and the optimum KCl concentration of the enzyme.

Biochemical and functional comparison of DNA polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilon from calf thymus

DNA polymerase alpha, delta and epsilon can be isolated simultaneously from calf thymus. DNA polymerase delta was purified to apparent homogeneity by a four-column procedure including DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose, phosphocellulose, and hydroxylapatite, yielding two polypeptides of 125 and 48 kDa, respectively. On hydroxylapatite DNA polymerase delta can completely be separated from DNA polymerase epsilon. By KCl DNA polymerase delta is eluted first, while addition of potassium phosphate elutes DNA polymerase epsilon. DNA polymerases delta and epsilon could be distinguished from DNA polymerase alpha by their (i) resistance to the monoclonal antibody SJK 132-20, (ii) relative resistance to N2-[p-(n-butyl)phenyl]-2-deoxyguanosine triphosphate and 2-[p-(n-butyl)anilino]-2-deoxyadenosine triphosphate, (iii) presence of a 3'----5' exonuclease, (iv) polypeptide composition, (v) template requirements, (vi) processivities on the homopolymer poly(dA)/oligo(dT12-18), and (vii) lack of primase. The following differences of DNA polymerase delta to DNA polymerase epsilon were evident: (i) the independence of DNA polymerase epsilon to proliferating cell nuclear antigen for processivity, (ii) utilization of deoxy- and ribonucleotide primers, (iii) template requirements in the absence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, (iv) mode of elution from hydroxylapatite, and (v) sensitivity to d2TTP and to dimethyl sulfoxide. Both enzymes contain a 3'----5' exonuclease, but are devoid of endonuclease, RNase H, DNA helicase, DNA dependent ATPase, DNA primase, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. DNA polymerase delta is 100-150 fold dependent on proliferating cell nuclear antigen for activity and processivity on poly(dA)/oligo(dT12-18) at base ratios between 1:1 to 100:1. The activity of DNA polymerase delta requires an acidic pH of 6.5 and is also found on poly(dT)/oligo(dA12-18) and on poly(dT)/oligo(A12-18) but not on 10 other templates tested. All three DNA polymerases can be classified according to the revised nomenclature for eukaryotic DNA polymerases (Burgers, P.M. J., Bambara, R. A., Campbell, J. L., Chang, L. M. S., Downey, K. M., Hübscher, U., Lee, M. Y. W. T., Linn, S. M., So, A. G., and Spadari, S. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 617-618).

DPB2, the gene encoding DNA polymerase II subunit B, is required for chromosome replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerase II holoenzyme consists of five polypeptides. The largest is the catalytic subunit, whose gene (POL2) has been cloned and sequenced. Herein we describe the cloning and sequencing of DPB2, the gene for the second largest subunit of DNA polymerase II, and the isolation of temperature-sensitive dpb2 mutations. The DNA sequence revealed an open reading frame encoding a protein of Mr 79,461 and lacking significant sequence similarity to any protein in data bases. Disruption of DPB2 was lethal for the cell and the temperature-sensitive dpb2-1 mutant was partially defective in DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature, indicating that the DPB2 protein is required for normal yeast chromosomal replication. Furthermore, the DNA polymerase II complex was difficult to obtain from dpb2-1 mutant cells, suggesting that a stable DNA polymerase II complex requires DPB2 and is essential for chromosomal replication. The DPB2 transcript periodically fluctuated during the cell cycle and, like those of other genes encoding DNA replication proteins, peaked at the G1/S phase boundary.

Purification and some properties of Candida albicans DNA polymerases

DNA polymerases of Candida albicans were purified to near homogeneity. Three well distinguished peaks of DNA polymerase activity (Enzyme I, II and III respectively) were obtained by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. This purification step was followed by column chromatographies on Sepharose 6B and denatured DNA-cellulose. The enzymes' molecular mass and biochemical properties, including their inhibition by aphidicolin, were studied. Molecular mass was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and was found to be 110 kDa for Enzyme I, 80 kDa for Enzyme II and 50 kDa for Enzyme III.

Studies on the initiation and elongation reactions in the simian virus 40 DNA replication system

The synthesis of oligoribonucleotides by DNA primase in the presence of duplex DNA containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) origin of replication was examined. Small RNA chains (10-15 nucleotides) were synthesized in the presence of the four common ribonucleoside triphosphates, SV40 large tumor antigen (T antigen), the human DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha)-DNA primase complex, the human single-stranded DNA-binding protein (HSSB), and topoisomerase I isolated from HeLa cells. The DNA primase-catalyzed reaction showed an absolute requirement for T antigen, HSSB, and pol alpha. The requirement for HSSB was not satisfied by other SSBs that can support the T-antigen-catalyzed unwinding of DNA containing the SV40 origin of replication. Oligoribonucleotide synthesis occurred with a lag that paralleled the lag observed in DNA synthesis. These results indicate that the specificity for the HSSB in the SV40 replication reaction is due to the pol alpha-primase-mediated synthesis of the Okazaki fragments. In contrast to this specificity, the elongation of Okazaki fragments can be catalyzed by a variety of different DNA polymerases, including high levels of pol alpha, the polymerase delta holoenzyme, T4 polymerase holoenzyme, the Escherichia coli polymerase III holoenzyme, and other polymerases. These observations suggest that leading-strand synthesis in the in vitro SV40 replication system can be nonspecific.

Immunoaffinity purification and properties of Drosophila melanogaster DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex

Two hybrid cell lines (DM88-5E12 and DM88-4C9) secreting monoclonal antibodies against DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from Drosophila melanogaster Kc cells were established by immunizing mice with the complex partially purified by a conventional method. The IgG subclasses of both antibodies were IgG1. Both antibodies immunoprecipitated the DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from D. melanogaster Kc cells. The DNA-polymerizing activity was neutralized by 4C9 antibody, but not by 5E12 antibody. The DNA priming activity was not neutralized by either antibody. These antibodies did not cross-react to HeLa DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex. A rapid, two-step purification of DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from D. melanogaster Kc cell was carried out by 5E12 antibody column chromatography followed by single-stranded DNA cellulose column chromatography. The immunoaffinity-purified enzyme had both DNA-polymerizing and DNA-priming activities with the specific activities of 50,000 and 2,000 units/mg, respectively. The effects of aphidicolin, NEM, ddTTP, BuPdGTP, and DMSO on the enzyme activity showed that the purified enzyme was DNA polymerase alpha, but not DNA polymerase beta, gamma, or delta. The purified enzyme consisted of polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 180 (and 145, 140, 130 kDa), 72, 63, 51, and 49 kDa. The 5E12 antibody was shown to bind to all the high-molecular-weight polypeptides, 180, 145, 140, and 130 kDa, by immuno-Western blotting analysis.

Purification and characterization of mouse DNA polymerase alpha devoid of primase activity

A simple method was developed for the isolation of primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha from the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex of mouse FM3A cells. The polymerase was separated from primase subunits by chromatography on a single-stranded DNA-cellulose column in the presence of 50% etylene glycol. The primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha contained two polypeptides with molecular masses of 180,000 and 68,000. Analysis of the DNA products with poly(dA)-oligo(dT)10 as template-primer revealed that both primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha and the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex predominantly synthesized short DNA with less than 30 nucleotides, but that the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex also synthesized some longer DNA with more than 300-400 nucleotides.

SV40 T antigen binds directly to the large subunit of purified DNA polymerase alpha

Purified SV40 large T antigen and purified DNA polymerase alpha-primase form a complex detectable by ELISA and by a modified immunoblotting technique. The interaction is specific for the large catalytic subunit of polymerase alpha. The amino terminal 83 amino acids of T antigen are both necessary and sufficient for binding to the polymerase. However, antibody epitopes located in the carboxy terminal ATPase domain of T antigen are masked in the polymerase-T antigen complex, and complex formation is inhibited by an antibody directed against the carboxy terminus of T antigen, suggesting that this region of T antigen, though not required for binding, is in close proximity to the bound polymerase. The affinity of human DNA polymerase alpha for T antigen is approximately 10-fold greater than that of polymerase alpha from calf thymus, consistent with the interpretation that polymerase alpha is at least in part responsible for the primate-specific replication of SV40 DNA in vivo and in vitro. The results suggest that specific protein-protein interaction between DNA polymerase alpha and T antigen plays an important role in viral DNA replication.

A third essential DNA polymerase in S. cerevisiae

DNA polymerases I and III are essential for viability of S. cerevisiae. We have cloned and analyzed POL2, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the third nuclear DNA polymerase, DNA polymerase II. POL2 expressed a transcript of approximately 7.5 kb and contained a reading frame that encoded a protein of calculated Mr 255,649. The N-terminal half of the predicted protein displayed relatively weak similarity of sequence to eukaryotic DNA polymerases. Disruption of the coding sequence at midpoint led to viable, slowly growing cells, which yielded a truncated polypeptide with DNA polymerase II activity, free from subunits B or C. Deletion of the reading frame resulted in inviability and the dumbbell terminal morphology that typically follows arrest of DNA replication. We conclude that three DNA polymerases are essential in yeast and argue that all three are replicases, a possibility that challenges existing models of eukaryotic DNA replication.

Selective action of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate on viral reverse transcriptases and human DNA polymerases

The action of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (N3dTTP) on DNA strand elongation catalyzed by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase was evaluated in comparison with human DNA polymerase alpha and proliferating cell nuclear antigen-independent DNA polymerase delta. Sequencing gel analysis demonstrated that the human immunodeficiency virus 1 reverse transcriptase preferentially incorporated N3dTTP into the T sites of the growing DNA strands and caused chain termination in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was observed even when the N3dTTP concentration was 0.3 microM, 100-fold less than dTTP. Studies with reverse transcriptases from avian myeloblastosis virus and Moloney murine leukemia virus showed that N3dTTP was also efficiently incorporated into DNA by these enzymes and terminated DNA strand elongation. In contrast, human DNA polymerases alpha and delta did not incorporate detectable amounts of N3dTTP into the DNA and were not inhibited by 300 microM N3dTTP. The selective incorporation of the chain-terminating nucleotide by the viral reverse transcriptases appears to be a molecular basis for the positive therapeutic index of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine.

A 21S enzyme complex from HeLa cells that functions in simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro

A sedimentable complex of enzymes for DNA synthesis was partially purified from the combined low-salt nuclear extract-postmicrosomal supernatant solution of HeLa cell homogenates by poly(ethylene glycol) precipitation in the presence of 2 M KCl, discontinuous gradient centrifugation, Q-Sepharose chromatography, and velocity gradient centrifugation. In addition to the previously described 640-kDa multiprotein DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex [Vishwanatha et al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 6619-6628], the enzyme complex also has associated topoisomerase I, DNA-dependent ATPase, RNase H, DNA ligase, a simian virus 40 origin recognition, dA/dT sequence binding protein [Malkas & Baril (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 70-74], and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Essentially all of the T antigen dependent simian virus 40 in vitro replication activity in the combined nuclear extract-postmicrosomal supernatant solution resides with the sedimentable complex of enzymes for DNA synthesis. Sedimentation analysis on a 10-35% glycerol gradient in the presence of 0.5 M KCl indicates that the enzyme complex is 21S. The associated enzymes for DNA synthesis and in vitro simian virus 40 replication activity cofractionate throughout the purification of the 21S complex. The DNA polymerase and in vitro simian virus 40 replication activities are both inhibited by monoclonal antibody (SJK 132-20) to human DNA polymerase alpha and by 5-10 microM butylphenyl-dGTP, indicating that the association of DNA polymerase alpha with the 21S enzyme complex is essential for the initiation of SV40 DNA replication in vitro.

Potent inhibitory effects of the 5'-triphosphates of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil on DNA polymerase gamma

(E)-5-(2-Bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (BrVdUTP) and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil 5'-triphosphate (BrVarafUTP), which are known as specific inhibitors of herpes simplex viral (type 1 and 2) DNA polymerase, were found to be strong inhibitors of DNA polymerase gamma from human KB and murine myeloma cells. In fact BrVdUTP and BrVarafUTP were found to be stronger inhibitors of DNA polymerase gamma than of other DNA polymerases having viral (herpes simplex virus or retrovirus) origin or cellular (eukaryotic alpha and beta, or prokaryotic) origin. The mode of inhibition of DNA polymerase gamma by BrVdUTP and BrVarafUTP was competitive with respect to dTTP, the normal substrate. Whereas BrVdUTP was an efficient substrate for DNA polymerase gamma and other DNA polymerases that were examined, BrVarafUTP failed to serve as a substrate for DNA synthesis. Ki values for BrVdUTP (40 nM) and BrVarafUTP (7 nM) with DNA polymerase gamma, as determined with (rA)n.(dT) as the template.primer, were much smaller than the Km values for dTTP (0.16 microM and 0.71 microM for murine and human DNA polymerase gamma, respectively). Thus, the affinity of BrVdUTP or BrVarafUTP for DNA polymerase gamma was much stronger than that of dTTP.

Wheat embryo DNA polymerase A reverse transcribes natural and synthetic RNA templates. Biochemical characterization and comparison with animal DNA polymerase gamma and retroviral reverse transcriptase

Wheat DNA polymerase A has been purified from wheat germ. The previous purification procedure (Castroviejo, M. et al. (1979) Biochem. J. 181, 183-191; Tarrago-Litvak, L. et al. (1975) FEBS Lett. 59, 125-130), has been improved leading to a higher degree of purity. Several biochemical properties of the enzyme are described. Interestingly, wheat DNA polymerase A is able to copy natural poly(A)+ mRNA into cDNA, in a way that is similar to that of the human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). All four dXTP and the oligo dT primer were required for cDNA synthesis. The cDNA product was completely digested in the presence of DNase I and predigestion of the mRNA template with RNase decreased dramatically the cDNA synthesis. The animal DNA polymerase gamma can not copy natural mRNA. Substances, known to alter the enzymatic activities have been used to compare enzymes properties. In the presence of glycerol, ethidium bromide or spermine, wheat DNA polymerase A, HIV-RT and DNA polymerase gamma behave similar and they differ from animal DNA polymerase alpha. Nevertheless, DNA polymerase A is more resistant than HIV-RT and DNA polymerase gamma to the chain terminator ddTTP, while the wheat enzyme is more inhibited than DNA polymerase gamma but more resistant than HIV-RT in the presence of N3-TTP.

Structure of DNA polymerase alpha-primase complexes from mammalian cells analyzed by using monoclonal antibodies

The molecular masses of two of the four DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex subunit peptides from various mammalian cells have been compared through the use of specific monoclonal antibodies. One monoclonal antibody (E4) binds to 77-kDa peptide from HeLa cells and cognate peptides from other mammalian cells (monkey, mouse, bovine, Indian muntjac, and hamster). Another monoclonal antibody (A5) binds the 180-kDa type peptide and its degradation product (160-kDa peptide) of the mammalian DNA polymerase alpha-primase complexes. Neither of these antibodies reacts with DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from chicken cells. Comparative immunoblot analysis indicates that the molecular masses of the two main peptides of DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex isolated from the various mammalian sources are in excellent agreement with each other, except for the 77-kDa type peptide from bovine and Indian muntjac cells which was found to be significantly smaller (68 kDa) in these cases. The small molecular mass of bovine 77-kDa type peptide is not attributable to the action of a protease which may be present in the extract of bovine cells.

Fidelity of DNA polymerase alpha partially purified from a mutator mutant and wild-type mouse FM3A cells

Several mutator mutants were isolated from a cultured mouse cell line (FM3A). The mutants exhibited a high rate of spontaneous mutation at three genetic loci of drug resistance. To investigate a possible link between mutator phenotype and fidelity of DNA replication, DNA polymerase alpha was partially purified from the wild-type and the mutator mutant (Fmut 1) showing the highest mutation rate. Using a combination of synthetic template and primer, the ratio of incorporation of incorrect to correct nucleotides was determined. The results indicated that the DNA polymerase alpha from the mutator mutant showed a slightly higher rate of misincorporation, 1.4 and 1.6 times, than that of the wild-type.

Effect of divalent and monovalent cations on calf thymus PCNA-independent DNA polymerase delta and its 3'----5' exonuclease

Recent data suggest that DNA polymerases alpha and delta might have a coordinate functional role at the replication fork. In this communication we show that Mg2+ is likely the natural metal activator for both enzymes. Mn2+, a known mutagenic agent, is a competitive inhibitor of Mg2+ for DNA polymerase delta and acompetitive for DNA polymerase alpha. The 3'----5' exonuclease activity associated with DNA polymerase delta is not affected upon addition of Mn2+. Be2+, another mutagenic agent, on the other hand, has an inhibitory effect on the 3'----5' exonuclease, but not on the DNA polymerase delta. The data presented might explain the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of these two divalent cations.

Cloning the polB gene of Escherichia coli and identification of its product

Using an in vivo mini-Mu cloning system, we have cloned the polB gene of Escherichia coli into the multicopy plasmid, pUC18. A chromosomal insert of 4.9 kilobases gave 30-40-fold overproduction of DNA polymerase II, and the cells containing the plasmid showed normal growth. The restriction pattern of the polB gene does not match that of either the polA gene or polC gene. Plasmid-directed protein synthesis demonstrates peptides of 99 and 82 kDa which are not expressed by derivative plasmids without DNA polymerase II activity. It appears from in situ gel assays and high performance liquid chromatography that 82- and 55-kDa proteins are derived from the 99-kDa protein by degradation, but all retain activity. DNA polymerase I or DNA polymerase III antibody does not inhibit the synthesis reaction of partially purified DNA polymerase II, but DNA polymerase II antibody does. By the criteria of restriction pattern of the polB gene, molecular weight of the protein, and antibody inhibition of reaction, DNA polymerase II can be demonstrated to be a distinct DNA polymerase.