A unified polymerase mechanism for nonhomologous DNA and RNA polymerases

Structural basis of transcription: RNA polymerase II substrate binding and metal coordination using a free-electron laser

Catalysis and translocation of multisubunit DNA-directed RNA polymerases underlie all cellular mRNA synthesis. RNA polymerase II (Pol II) synthesizes eukaryotic pre-mRNAs from a DNA template strand buried in its active site. Structural details of catalysis at near-atomic resolution and precise arrangement of key active site components have been elusive. Here, we present the free-electron laser (FEL) structures of a matched ATP-bound Pol II and the hyperactive Rpb1 T834P bridge helix (BH) mutant at the highest resolution to date. The radiation-damage-free FEL structures reveal the full active site interaction network, including the trigger loop (TL) in the closed conformation, bonafide occupancy of both site A and B Mg2+, and, more importantly, a putative third (site C) Mg2+ analogous to that described for some DNA polymerases but not observed previously for cellular RNA polymerases. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the structures indicate that the third Mg2+ is coordinated and stabilized at its observed position. TL residues provide half of the substrate binding pocket while multiple TL/BH interactions induce conformational changes that could allow translocation upon substrate hydrolysis. Consistent with TL/BH communication, a FEL structure and MD simulations of the T834P mutant reveal rearrangement of some active site interactions supporting potential plasticity in active site function and long-distance effects on both the width of the central channel and TL conformation, likely underlying its increased elongation rate at the expense of fidelity.

RNA Polymerase II Activity Control of Gene Expression and Involvement in Disease

Gene expression is dependent on RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) activity in eukaryotes. In addition to determining the rate of RNA synthesis for all protein coding genes, Pol II serves as a platform for the recruitment of factors and regulation of co-transcriptional events, from RNA processing to chromatin modification and remodeling. The transcriptome can be shaped by changes in Pol II kinetics affecting RNA synthesis itself or because of alterations to co-transcriptional events that are responsive to or coupled with transcription. Genetic, biochemical, and structural approaches to Pol II in model organisms have revealed critical insights into how Pol II works and the types of factors that regulate it. The complexity of Pol II regulation generally increases with organismal complexity. In this review, we describe fundamental aspects of how Pol II activity can shape gene expression, discuss recent advances in how Pol II elongation is regulated on genes, and how altered Pol II function is linked to human disease and aging.

Coordination of Primer Initiation Within the Catalytic Domain of Human PrimPol

To facilitate the eukaryotic repriming pathway of DNA damage tolerance, PrimPol synthesises de novo oligonucleotide primers downstream of polymerase-stalling obstacles. These primers enable replicative polymerases to resume synthesis and ensure the timely completion of DNA replication. Initiating synthesis de novo requires the coordination of single-stranded DNA, initiating nucleotides, and metal ions within PrimPol's active site to catalyze the formation of the first phosphodiester bond. Here we examine the interactions between human PrimPol's catalytic domain, nucleotides, and DNA template during each of the various catalytic steps to determine the 'choreography' of primer synthesis, where substrates bind in an ordered manner. Our findings show that the ability of PrimPol to conduct de novo primer synthesis is underpinned by a network of stabilising interactions between the enzyme, template, and nucleotides, as we previously observed for related primase CRISPR-Associated Prim-Pol (CAPP). Together, these findings establish a detailed model for the initiation of DNA synthesis by human PrimPol, which appears highly conserved.

Structural basis of transcription: RNA Polymerase II substrate binding and metal coordination at 3.0 Å using a free-electron laser

Catalysis and translocation of multi-subunit DNA-directed RNA polymerases underlie all cellular mRNA synthesis. RNA polymerase II (Pol II) synthesizes eukaryotic pre-mRNAs from a DNA template strand buried in its active site. Structural details of catalysis at near atomic resolution and precise arrangement of key active site components have been elusive. Here we present the free electron laser (FEL) structure of a matched ATP-bound Pol II, revealing the full active site interaction network at the highest resolution to date, including the trigger loop (TL) in the closed conformation, bonafide occupancy of both site A and B Mg2+, and a putative third (site C) Mg2+ analogous to that described for some DNA polymerases but not observed previously for cellular RNA polymerases. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the structure indicate that the third Mg2+ is coordinated and stabilized at its observed position. TL residues provide half of the substrate binding pocket while multiple TL/bridge helix (BH) interactions induce conformational changes that could propel translocation upon substrate hydrolysis. Consistent with TL/BH communication, a FEL structure and MD simulations of the hyperactive Rpb1 T834P bridge helix mutant reveals rearrangement of some active site interactions supporting potential plasticity in active site function and long-distance effects on both the width of the central channel and TL conformation, likely underlying its increased elongation rate at the expense of fidelity.

Primase-polymerases: how to make a primer from scratch

To pass on genetic information to the next generation, cells must faithfully replicate their genomes to provide copies for each daughter cell. To synthesise these duplicates, cells employ specialised enzymes called DNA polymerases, which rapidly and accurately replicate nucleic acid polymers. However, most polymerases lack the ability to directly initiate DNA synthesis and required specialised replicases called primases to make short polynucleotide primers, from which they then extend. Replicative primases (eukaryotes and archaea) belong to a functionally diverse enzyme superfamily known as Primase-Polymerases (Prim-Pols), with orthologues present throughout all domains of life. Characterised by a conserved catalytic Prim-Pol domain, these enzymes have evolved various roles in DNA metabolism, including DNA replication, repair, and damage tolerance. Many of these biological roles are fundamentally underpinned by the ability of Prim-Pols to generate primers de novo. This review examines our current understanding of the catalytic mechanisms utilised by Prim-Pols to initiate primer synthesis.

Bacterial thermophilic DNA polymerases: A focus on prominent biotechnological applications

DNA polymerases are the enzymes able to replicate the genetic information in nucleic acid. As a result, they are necessary to copy the complete genome of every living creature before cell division and sustain the integrity of the genetic information throughout the life of each cell. Any organism that uses DNA as its genetic information, whether unicellular or multicellular, requires one or more thermostable DNA polymerases to thrive. Thermostable DNA polymerase is important in modern biotechnology and molecular biology because it results in methods such as DNA cloning, DNA sequencing, whole genome amplification, molecular diagnostics, polymerase chain reaction, synthetic biology, and single nucleotide polymorphism detection. There are at least 14 DNA-dependent DNA polymerases in the human genome, which is remarkable. These include the widely accepted, high-fidelity enzymes responsible for replicating the vast majority of genomic DNA and eight or more specialized DNA polymerases discovered in the last decade. The newly discovered polymerases' functions are still being elucidated. Still, one of its crucial tasks is to permit synthesis to resume despite the DNA damage that stops the progression of replication-fork. One of the primary areas of interest in the research field has been the quest for novel DNA polymerase since the unique features of each thermostable DNA polymerase may lead to the prospective creation of novel reagents. Furthermore, protein engineering strategies for generating mutant or artificial DNA polymerases have successfully generated potent DNA polymerases for various applications. In molecular biology, thermostable DNA polymerases are extremely useful for PCR-related methods. This article examines the role and importance of DNA polymerase in a variety of techniques.

DNA Polymerase β in the Context of Cancer

DNA polymerase beta (Pol β) is a 39 kD vertebrate polymerase that lacks proofreading ability, yet still maintains a moderate fidelity of DNA synthesis. Pol β is a key enzyme that functions in the base excision repair and non-homologous end joining pathways of DNA repair. Mechanisms of fidelity for Pol β are still being elucidated but are likely to involve dynamic conformational motions of the enzyme upon its binding to DNA and deoxynucleoside triphosphates. Recent studies have linked germline and somatic variants of Pol β with cancer and autoimmunity. These variants induce genomic instability by a number of mechanisms, including error-prone DNA synthesis and accumulation of single nucleotide gaps that lead to replication stress. Here, we review the structure and function of Pol β, and we provide insights into how structural changes in Pol β variants may contribute to genomic instability, mutagenesis, disease, cancer development, and impacts on treatment outcomes.

Investigating the Conformational Dynamics of a Y-Family DNA Polymerase during Its Folding and Binding to DNA and a Nucleotide

During DNA polymerization, the Y-family DNA polymerases are capable of bypassing various DNA damage, which can stall the replication fork progression. It has been well acknowledged that the structures of the Y-family DNA polymerases have been naturally evolved to undertake this vital task. However, the mechanisms of how these proteins utilize their unique structural and conformational dynamical features to perform the translesion DNA synthesis are less understood. Here, we developed structure-based models to study the precatalytic DNA polymerization process, including DNA and nucleotide binding to DPO4, a paradigmatic Y-family polymerase from Sulfolobus solfataricus. We studied the interplay between the folding and the conformational dynamics of DPO4 and found that DPO4 undergoes first unraveling (unfolding) and then folding for accomplishing the functional "open-to-closed" conformational transition. DNA binding dynamically modulates the conformational equilibrium in DPO4 during the stepwise binding through different types of interactions, leading to different conformational distributions of DPO4 at different DNA binding stages. We observed that nucleotide binding induces modulation of a few contacts surrounding the active site of the DPO4-DNA complex associated with a high free energy barrier. Our simulation results resonate with the experimental evidence that the conformational change at the active site led by nucleotide is the rate-limiting step of nucleotide incorporation. In combination with localized frustration analyses, we underlined the importance of DPO4 conformational dynamics and fluctuations in facilitating DNA and nucleotide binding. Our findings offer mechanistic insights into the processes of DPO4 conformational dynamics associated with the substrate binding and contribute to the understanding of the "structure-dynamics-function" relationship in the Y-family DNA polymerases.

PrimPol: A Breakthrough among DNA Replication Enzymes and a Potential New Target for Cancer Therapy

DNA replication can encounter blocking obstacles, leading to replication stress and genome instability. There are several mechanisms for evading this blockade. One mechanism consists of repriming ahead of the obstacles, creating a new starting point; in humans, PrimPol is responsible for carrying out this task. PrimPol is a primase that operates in both the nucleus and mitochondria. In contrast with conventional primases, PrimPol is a DNA primase able to initiate DNA synthesis de novo using deoxynucleotides, discriminating against ribonucleotides. In vitro, PrimPol can act as a DNA primase, elongating primers that PrimPol itself sythesizes, or as translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase, elongating pre-existing primers across lesions. However, the lack of evidence for PrimPol polymerase activity in vivo suggests that PrimPol only acts as a DNA primase. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of human PrimPol covering its biochemical properties and structure, in vivo function and regulation, and the processes that take place to fill the gap-containing lesion that PrimPol leaves behind. Finally, we explore the available data on human PrimPol expression in different tissues in physiological conditions and its role in cancer.

How cyanophage S-2L rejects adenine and incorporates 2-aminoadenine to saturate hydrogen bonding in its DNA

Bacteriophages have long been known to use modified bases in their DNA to prevent cleavage by the host's restriction endonucleases. Among them, cyanophage S-2L is unique because its genome has all its adenines (A) systematically replaced by 2-aminoadenines (Z). Here, we identify a member of the PrimPol family as the sole possible polymerase of S-2L and we find it can incorporate both A and Z in front of a T. Its crystal structure at 1.5 Å resolution confirms that there is no structural element in the active site that could lead to the rejection of A in front of T. To resolve this contradiction, we show that a nearby gene is a triphosphohydolase specific of dATP (DatZ), that leaves intact all other dNTPs, including dZTP. This explains the absence of A in S-2L genome. Crystal structures of DatZ with various ligands, including one at sub-angstrom resolution, allow to describe its mechanism as a typical two-metal-ion mechanism and to set the stage for its engineering.

Structural Biology of RNA Polymerase II Transcription: 20 Years On

Gene transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is the first step in the expression of the eukaryotic genome and a focal point for cellular regulation during development, differentiation, and responses to the environment. Two decades after the determination of the structure of Pol II, the mechanisms of transcription have been elucidated with studies of Pol II complexes with nucleic acids and associated proteins. Here we provide an overview of the nearly 200 available Pol II complex structures and summarize how these structures have elucidated promoter-dependent transcription initiation, promoter-proximal pausing and release of Pol II into active elongation, and the mechanisms that Pol II uses to navigate obstacles such as nucleosomes and DNA lesions. We predict that future studies will focus on how Pol II transcription is interconnected with chromatin transitions, RNA processing, and DNA repair.

Engineering polymerases for applications in synthetic biology

DNA polymerases play a central role in biology by transferring genetic information from one generation to the next during cell division. Harnessing the power of these enzymes in the laboratory has fueled an increase in biomedical applications that involve the synthesis, amplification, and sequencing of DNA. However, the high substrate specificity exhibited by most naturally occurring DNA polymerases often precludes their use in practical applications that require modified substrates. Moving beyond natural genetic polymers requires sophisticated enzyme-engineering technologies that can be used to direct the evolution of engineered polymerases that function with tailor-made activities. Such efforts are expected to uniquely drive emerging applications in synthetic biology by enabling the synthesis, replication, and evolution of synthetic genetic polymers with new physicochemical properties.

Synthesis of phosphoramidate-linked DNA by a modified DNA polymerase

Life on Earth depends on polymerases. These enzymes copy genetic information to produce the DNA and RNA strands at the core of the central dogma. Polymerases act by forming phosphodiester linkages to produce polynucleotide strands. While synthetic chemistry can generate a broad range of alternative genetic materials with unnatural linkages, polymerases have so far been limited to forming O-P bonds. Here, we show that, in fact, unnatural N-P bonds can also be formed by a modified DNA polymerase. This template-directed activity generates complementary strands linked by phosphoramidate (NP) esters, an alternative backbone linkage only known to exist in the laboratory. The emergence of NP-DNA polymerase activity implies the biochemical plausibility of alternative central dogmas for cellular life.

All known polymerases copy genetic material by catalyzing phosphodiester bond formation. This highly conserved activity proceeds by a common mechanism, such that incorporated nucleoside analogs terminate chain elongation if the resulting primer strand lacks a terminal hydroxyl group. Even conservatively substituted 3′-amino nucleotides generally act as chain terminators, and no enzymatic pathway for their polymerization has yet been found. Although 3′-amino nucleotides can be chemically coupled to yield stable oligonucleotides containing N3′→P5′ phosphoramidate (NP) bonds, no such internucleotide linkages are known to occur in nature. Here, we report that 3′-amino terminated primers are, in fact, slowly extended by the DNA polymerase from B. stearothermophilus in a template-directed manner. When its cofactor is Ca²⁺ rather than Mg²⁺, the reaction is fivefold faster, permitting multiple turnover NP bond formation to yield NP-DNA strands from the corresponding 3′-amino-2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside 5′-triphosphates. A single active site mutation further enhances the rate of NP-DNA synthesis by an additional 21-fold. We show that DNA-dependent NP-DNA polymerase activity depends on conserved active site residues and propose a likely mechanism for this activity based on a series of crystal structures of bound complexes. Our results significantly broaden the catalytic scope of polymerase activity and suggest the feasibility of a genetic transition between native nucleic acids and NP-DNA.

Crystal structures of a natural DNA polymerase that functions as an XNA reverse transcriptase

Replicative DNA polymerases are highly efficient enzymes that maintain stringent geometric control over shape and orientation of the template and incoming nucleoside triphosphate. In a surprising twist to this paradigm, a naturally occurring bacterial DNA polymerase I member isolated from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (Bst) exhibits an innate ability to reverse transcribe RNA and other synthetic congeners (XNAs) into DNA. This observation raises the interesting question of how a replicative DNA polymerase is able to recognize templates of diverse chemical composition. Here, we present crystal structures of natural Bst DNA polymerase that capture the post-translocated product of DNA synthesis on templates composed entirely of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-β-d-arabino nucleic acid (FANA) and α-l-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA). Analysis of the enzyme active site reveals the importance of structural plasticity as a possible mechanism for XNA-dependent DNA synthesis and provides insights into the construction of variants with improved activity.

Promoter Length Affects the Initiation of T7 RNA Polymerase In Vitro: New Insights into Promoter/Polymerase Co-evolution

Polymerases are integral factors of gene expression and are essential for the maintenance and transmission of genetic information. RNA polymerases (RNAPs) differ from other polymerases in that they can bind promoter sequences and initiate transcription de novo and this promoter recognition requires the presence of specific DNA binding domains in the polymerase. Bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) is the prototype for single subunit RNA polymerases which include bacteriophage and mitochondrial RNAPs, and the structure and mechanistic aspects of transcription by T7 RNAP are well characterized. Here, we describe experiments to determine whether the prototype T7 RNAP is able to recognize and initiate at truncated promoters similar to mitochondrial promoters. Using an in vitro oligonucleotide transcriptional system, we have assayed transcription initiation activity by T7 RNAP. These assays have not only defined the limits of conventional de novo initiation on truncated promoters, but have identified novel activities of initiation of RNA synthesis. We propose that these novel activities may be vestigial activities surviving from the transition of single subunit polymerase initiation using primers to de novo initiation using promoters.

Recent advances in understanding bacterial and archaeoeukaryotic primases

DNA replication in all forms of life relies upon the initiation of synthesis on a single strand template by formation of a short oligonucleotide primer, which is subsequently elongated by DNA polymerases. Two structurally distinct classes of enzymes have evolved to perform this function, namely the bacterial DnaG-type primases and the Archaeal and Eukaryotic primases (AEP). Structural and mechanistic insights have provided a clear understanding of the role of the different domains of these enzymes in the context of the replisome and recent work sheds light upon primase-substrate interactions. We herein review the emerging picture of the primase mechanism on the basis of the structural knowledge obtained to date and propose future directions of this essential aspect of DNA replication.

P(V) Reagents for the Scalable Synthesis of Natural and Modified Nucleoside Triphosphates

Natural and modified nucleoside triphosphates impact nearly every major aspect of healthcare research from DNA sequencing to drug discovery. However, a scalable synthetic route to these molecules has long been hindered by the need for purification by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Here, we describe a fundamentally different approach that uses a novel P(V) pyrene pyrophosphate reagent to generate derivatives that are purified by silica gel chromatography and converted to the desired compounds on scales vastly exceeding those achievable by HPLC. The power of this approach is demonstrated through the synthesis of a broad range of natural and unnatural nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs and xNTPs) using protocols that are efficient, inexpensive, and operationally straightforward.

I260Q DNA polymerase β highlights precatalytic conformational rearrangements critical for fidelity

DNA polymerase β (pol β) fills single nucleotide gaps in DNA during base excision repair and non-homologous end-joining. Pol β must select the correct nucleotide from among a pool of four nucleotides with similar structures and properties in order to maintain genomic stability during DNA repair. Here, we use a combination of X-ray crystallography, fluorescence resonance energy transfer and nuclear magnetic resonance to show that pol β‘s ability to access the appropriate conformations both before and upon binding to nucleotide substrates is integral to its fidelity. Importantly, we also demonstrate that the inability of the I260Q mutator variant of pol β to properly navigate this conformational landscape results in error-prone DNA synthesis. Our work reveals that precatalytic conformational rearrangements themselves are an important underlying mechanism of substrate selection by DNA pol β.

Enhanced Activity of Variant DNA Polymerase β (D160G) Contributes to Cisplatin Therapy by Impeding the Efficiency of NER

Cisplatin, commonly used in a variety of cancer treatments, induces apoptosis in cancer cells by causing lethal DNA damage. Several DNA repair pathways participate in regulation of cisplatin treatment, leading to cisplatin sensitivity or resistance in cancer cells. DNA polymerase β (pol β), a key protein involved in base excision repair, confers a response to cisplatin therapy that is dependent on polymerase activity. Pol β D160G mutation with enhanced polymerase activity, previously identified in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, enhances the sensitivity of human cancer cells and mouse xenografts to cisplatin by limiting the efficiency of nucleotide excision repair (NER). Notably, the D160G mutation impedes the recruitment of XPA to cisplatin-induced sites of DNA damage, leading to unrepaired damage and further inducing cell death. Molecular architecture analysis indicated that the D160G mutation alters protein-DNA interactions and the surface electrostatic properties of the DNA-binding regions, resulting in greater DNA affinity and polymerase activity compared with wild-type pol β. Collectively, these results indicate that enhancing pol β activity impedes the efficiency of NER and provide a promising adjuvant therapeutic strategy for cisplatin chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS: Our studies demonstrate that polβ D160G mutation with enhanced polymerase activity impedes NER efficiency during the repair of cisplatin-induced DNA damage, leading to increased cisplatin sensitivity in cancer cells.

Dual expression of CCA-adding enzyme and RNase T in Escherichia coli generates a distinct cca growth phenotype with diverse applications

Correct synthesis and maintenance of functional tRNA 3′-CCA-ends is a crucial prerequisite for aminoacylation and must be achieved by the phylogenetically diverse group of tRNA nucleotidyltransferases. While numerous reports on the in vitro characterization exist, robust analysis under in vivo conditions is lacking. Here, we utilize Escherichia coli RNase T, a tRNA-processing enzyme responsible for the tRNA-CCA-end turnover, to generate an in vivo system for the evaluation of A-adding activity. Expression of RNase T results in a prominent growth phenotype that renders the presence of a CCA- or A-adding enzyme essential for cell survival in an E. coli Δcca background. The distinct growth fitness allows for both complementation and selection of enzyme variants in a natural environment. We demonstrate the potential of our system via detection of altered catalytic efficiency and temperature sensitivity. Furthermore, we select functional enzyme variants out of a sequence pool carrying a randomized codon for a highly conserved position essential for catalysis. The presented E. coli-based approach opens up a wide field of future studies including the investigation of tRNA nucleotidyltransferases from all domains of life and the biological relevance of in vitro data concerning their functionality and mode of operation.

The invariant glutamate of human PrimPol DxE motif is critical for its Mn2+-dependent distinctive activities

PrimPol is a human primase/polymerase specialized in downstream repriming of stalled forks during both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA replication. Like most primases and polymerases, PrimPol requires divalent metal cations, as Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, used as cofactors for catalysis. However, little is known about the consequences of using these two metal cofactors in combination, which would be the most physiological scenario during PrimPol-mediated reactions, and the individual contribution of the putative carboxylate residues (Asp¹¹⁴, Glu¹¹⁶ and Asp²⁸⁰) acting as metal ligands. By site-directed mutagenesis in human PrimPol, we confirmed the catalytic relevance of these three carboxylates, and identified Glu¹¹⁶ as a relevant enhancer of distinctive PrimPol reactions, which are highly dependent on Mn²⁺. Herein, we evidenced that PrimPol Glu¹¹⁶ contributes to error-prone tolerance of 8oxodG more markedly when both Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions are present. Moreover, Glu¹¹⁶ was important for TLS events mediated by primer/template realignments, and crucial to achieving an optimal primase activity, processes in which Mn²⁺ is largely preferred. EMSA analysis of PrimPol:ssDNA:dNTP pre-ternary complex indicated a critical role of each metal ligand, and a significant impairment when Glu¹¹⁶ was changed to a more conventional aspartate. These data suggest that PrimPol active site requires a specific motif A (DxE) to favor the use of Mn²⁺ ions in order to achieve optimal incoming nucleotide stabilization, especially required during primer synthesis.

A Small Helical Bundle Prepares Primer Synthesis by Binding Two Nucleotides that Enhance Sequence-Specific Recognition of the DNA Template

Primases have a fundamental role in DNA replication. They synthesize a primer that is then extended by DNA polymerases. Archaeoeukaryotic primases require for synthesis a catalytic and an accessory domain, the exact contribution of the latter being unresolved. For the pRN1 archaeal primase, this domain is a 115-amino acid helix bundle domain (HBD). Our structural investigations of this small HBD by liquid- and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed that only the HBD binds the DNA template. DNA binding becomes sequence-specific after a major allosteric change in the HBD, triggered by the binding of two nucleotide triphosphates. The spatial proximity of the two nucleotides and the DNA template in the quaternary structure of the HBD strongly suggests that this small domain brings together the substrates to prepare the first catalytic step of primer synthesis. This efficient mechanism is likely general for all archaeoeukaryotic primases.

Structural basis of mitochondrial transcription

The mitochondrial genome is transcribed by a single-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (mtRNAP) and its auxiliary factors. Structural studies have elucidated how mtRNAP cooperates with its dedicated transcription factors to direct RNA synthesis: initiation factors TFAM and TFB2M assist in promoter-DNA binding and opening by mtRNAP while the elongation factor TEFM increases polymerase processivity to the levels required for synthesis of long polycistronic mtRNA transcripts. Here, we review the emerging body of structural and functional studies of human mitochondrial transcription, provide a molecular movie that can be used for teaching purposes and discuss the open questions to guide future directions of investigation.

Structural Articulation of Biochemical Reactions Using Restrained Geometries and Topology Switching

A strategy named "restrained geometries and topology switching" (RGATS) is presented to obtain detailed trajectories for complex biochemical reactions using molecular mechanics (MM) methods. It enables prediction of realistic dynamical pathways for chemical reactions, especially for accurately characterizing the structural adjustments of highly complex environments to any proximal biochemical reaction. It can be used to generate reactive conformations, model stepwise or concerted reactions in complex environments, and probe the influence of changes in the environment. Its ability to take reactively nonoptimal conformations and generate favorable starting conformations for a biochemical reaction is illustrated for a proton transfer between two model compounds. Its ability to study concerted reactions in explicit solvent is illustrated using proton transfers between an ammonium ion and two conserved histidines in an ammonia transporter channel embedded in a lipid membrane. Its ability to characterize the changes induced by subtle differences in the active site environment is illustrated using nucleotide addition by a DNA polymerase in the presence of two versus three Mg²⁺ ions. RGATS can be employed within any MM program and requires no additional software implementation. This allows the full assortment of computational methods implemented in all available MM programs to be used to tackle virtually any question about biochemical reactions that is answerable without using a quantum mechanical (QM) model. It can also be applied to generate reasonable starting structures for more detailed and expensive QM or QM/MM methods. In particular, this strategy enables rapid prediction of reactant, intermediary, or product state structures in any macromolecular context, with the only requirement being that the structure in any one of these states is either known or can be accurately modeled.

Calcium-driven DNA synthesis by a high-fidelity DNA polymerase

Divalent metal ions, usually Mg2+, are required for both DNA synthesis and proofreading functions by DNA polymerases (DNA Pol). Although used as a non-reactive cofactor substitute for binding and crystallographic studies, Ca2+ supports DNA polymerization by only one DNA Pol, Dpo4. Here, we explore whether Ca2+-driven catalysis might apply to high-fidelity (HiFi) family B DNA Pols. The consequences of replacing Mg2+ by Ca2+ on base pairing at the polymerase active site as well as the editing of terminal nucleotides at the exonuclease active site of the archaeal Pyrococcus abyssi DNA Pol (PabPolB) are characterized and compared to other (families B, A, Y, X, D) DNA Pols. Based on primer extension assays, steady-state kinetics and ion-chased experiments, we demonstrate that Ca2+ (and other metal ions) activates DNA synthesis by PabPolB. While showing a slower rate of phosphodiester bond formation, nucleotide selectivity is improved over that of Mg2+. Further mechanistic studies show that the affinities for primer/template are higher in the presence of Ca2+ and reinforced by a correct incoming nucleotide. Conversely, no exonuclease degradation of the terminal nucleotides occurs with Ca2+. Evolutionary and mechanistic insights among DNA Pols are thus discussed.

Non-canonical transcription initiation: the expanding universe of transcription initiating substrates

RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme of transcription of the genetic information from DNA into RNA. RNAP recognizes four main substrates: ATP, CTP, GTP and UTP. Experimental evidence from the past several years suggests that, besides these four NTPs, other molecules can be used to initiate transcription: (i) ribooligonucleotides (nanoRNAs) and (ii) coenzymes such as NAD+, NADH, dephospho-CoA and FAD. The presence of these molecules at the 5΄ ends of RNAs affects the properties of the RNA. Here, we discuss the expanding portfolio of molecules that can initiate transcription, their mechanism of incorporation, effects on RNA and cellular processes, and we present an outlook toward other possible initiation substrates.

Molecular characterization of a novel cryptic virus infecting pigeonpea plants

A new member of the genus Deltapartitivirus was identified containing three dsRNAs with an estimated size of 1.71, 1.49 and 1.43 kb. The dsRNAs were extracted from symptomless pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] plants cv. Erra Kandulu. This new virus with 4.64 kb genome was tentatively named Arhar cryptic virus-1 (ArCV-1). The genomic RNAs were amplified and characterized by sequence independent single primer amplification. The dsRNAs shared a highly conserved 16 nt 5' non-coding region (5'-GATAATGATCCAAGGA-3'). The largest dsRNA (dsRNA-1) was identified as the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (replicase), predicted to encode a putative 55.34 kDa protein (P1). The two other smaller dsRNAs (dsRNA-2 and dsRNA-3) predicted to encode for putative capsid proteins of 38.50kDa (P2) and 38.51kDa (P3), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that ArCV-1 formed a clade together with Fragaria chiloensis cryptic virus, Rosa multiflora cryptic virus and Rose cryptic virus-1, indicating that ArCV-1 could be a new member of the genus Deltapartitivirus. ArCV-1 3Dpol structure revealed several interesting features. The 3Dpol in its full-length shares structural similarities with members of the family Caliciviridaeand family Picornaviridae. In addition, fourth dsRNA molecule (dsRNA-2A), not related to ArCV-1 genome, was found in the same plant tissue. The dsRNA-2A (1.6 kb) encodes a protein (P4), with a predicted size of 44.5 kDa. P4 shares similarity with coat protein genes of several cryptic viruses, in particular the bipartite cryptic viruses including Raphanus sativus cryptic virus-3. This is the first report of occurrence of a cryptic virus in pigeonpea plants.

Mechanistic insights into the allosteric regulation of bacterial ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) controls bacterial glycogen and plant starch biosynthetic pathways, the most common carbon storage polysaccharides in nature. AGPase activity is allosterically regulated by a series of metabolites in the energetic flux within the cell. Very recently, we reported the first crystal structures of the paradigmatic AGPase from Escherichia coli (EcAGPase) in complex with its preferred physiological negative and positive allosteric regulators, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), respectively. However, understanding the molecular mechanism by which AMP and FBP allosterically modulates EcAGPase enzymatic activity still remains enigmatic. Here we found that single point mutations of key residues in the AMP-binding site decrease its inhibitory effect but also clearly abolish the overall AMP-mediated stabilization effect in wild-type EcAGPase. Single point mutations of key residues for FBP binding did not revert the AMP-mediated stabilization. Strikingly, an EcAGPase-R130A mutant displayed a dramatic increase in activity when compared with wild-type EcAGPase, and this increase correlated with a significant increment of glycogen content in vivo The crystal structure of EcAGPase-R130A revealed unprecedented conformational changes in structural elements involved in the allosteric signal transmission. Altogether, we propose a model in which the positive and negative energy reporters regulate AGPase catalytic activity via intra- and interprotomer cross-talk, with a "sensory motif" and two loops, RL1 and RL2, flanking the ATP-binding site playing a significant role. The information reported herein provides exciting possibilities for industrial/biotechnological applications.

Advances in Structural and Single-Molecule Methods for Investigating DNA Lesion Bypass and Repair Polymerases

Innovative advances in X-ray crystallography and single-molecule biophysics have yielded unprecedented insight into the mechanisms of DNA lesion bypass and damage repair. Time-dependent X-ray crystallography has been successfully applied to view the bypass of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanine (8-oxoG), a major oxidative DNA lesion, and the incorporation of the triphosphate form, 8-oxo-dGTP, catalyzed by human DNA polymerase β. Significant findings of these studies are highlighted here, and their contributions to the current mechanistic understanding of mutagenic translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) and base excision repair are discussed. In addition, single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) techniques have recently been adapted to investigate nucleotide binding and incorporation opposite undamaged dG and 8-oxoG by Sulfolobus solfataricus DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4), a model Y-family DNA polymerase. The mechanistic response of Dpo4 to a DNA lesion and the complex smFRET technique are described here. In this perspective, we also describe how time-dependent X-ray crystallography and smFRET can be used to achieve the spatial and temporal resolutions necessary to answer some of the mechanistic questions that remain in the fields of TLS and DNA damage repair.

Exploring the active site of the Streptococcus pneumoniae topoisomerase IV-DNA cleavage complex with novel 7,8-bridged fluoroquinolones

As part of a programme of synthesizing and investigating the biological properties of new fluoroquinolone antibacterials and their targeting of topoisomerase IV from Streptococcus pneumoniae, we have solved the X-ray structure of the complexes of two new 7,8-bridged fluoroquinolones (with restricted C7 group rotation favouring tight binding) in complex with the topoisomerase IV from S. pneumoniae and an 18-base-pair DNA binding site—the E-site—found by our DNA mapping studies to bind drug strongly in the presence of topoisomerase IV (Leo et al. 2005 J. Biol. Chem.280, 14 252–14 263, doi:10.1074/jbc.M500156200). Although the degree of antibiotic resistance towards fluoroquinolones is much lower than that of β-lactams and a range of ribosome-bound antibiotics, there is a pressing need to increase the diversity of members of this successful clinically used class of drugs. The quinolone moiety of the new 7,8-bridged agents ACHN-245 and ACHN-454 binds similarly to that of clinafloxocin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin and trovofloxacin but the cyclic scaffold offers the possibility of chemical modification to produce interactions with other topoisomerase residues at the active site.

Unraveling the Phosphocholination Mechanism of the Legionella pneumophila Enzyme AnkX

The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila infects lung macrophages and injects numerous effector proteins into the host cell to establish a vacuole for proliferation. The necessary interference with vesicular trafficking of the host is achieved by modulation of the function of Rab GTPases. The effector protein AnkX chemically modifies Rab1b and Rab35 by covalent phosphocholination of serine or threonine residues using CDP-choline as a donor. So far, the phosphoryl transfer mechanism and the relevance of observed autophosphocholination of AnkX remained disputable. We designed tailored caged compounds to make this type of enzymatic reaction accessible for time-resolved Fourier transform infrared difference spectroscopy. By combining spectroscopic and biochemical methods, we determined that full length AnkX is autophosphocholinated at Ser521, Thr620, and Thr943. However, autophosphocholination loses specificity for these sites in shortened constructs and does not appear to be relevant for the catalysis of the phosphoryl transfer. In contrast, transient phosphocholination of His229 in the conserved catalytic motif might exist as a short-lived reaction intermediate. Upon substrate binding, His229 is deprotonated and locked in this state, being rendered capable of a nucleophilic attack on the pyrophosphate moiety of the substrate. The proton that originated from His229 is transferred to a nearby carboxylic acid residue. Thus, our combined findings support a ping-pong mechanism involving phosphocholination of His229 and subsequent transfer of phosphocholine to the Rab GTPase. Our approach can be extended to the investigation of further nucleotidyl transfer reactions, which are currently of reemerging interest in regulatory pathways of host-pathogen interactions.

Divalent ions attenuate DNA synthesis by human DNA polymerase α by changing the structure of the template/primer or by perturbing the polymerase reaction

DNA polymerases (pols) are sophisticated protein machines operating in the replication, repair and recombination of genetic material in the complex environment of the cell. DNA pol reactions require at least two divalent metal ions for the phosphodiester bond formation. We explore two understudied roles of metals in pol transactions with emphasis on polα, a crucial enzyme in the initiation of DNA synthesis. We present evidence that the combination of many factors, including the structure of the template/primer, the identity of the metal, the metal turnover in the pol active site, and the influence of the concentration of nucleoside triphosphates, affect DNA pol synthesis. On the poly-dT70 template, the increase of Mg(2+) concentration within the range typically used for pol reactions led to the severe loss of the ability of pol to extend DNA primers and led to a decline in DNA product sizes when extending RNA primers, simulating the effect of "counting" of the number of nucleotides in nascent primers by polα. We suggest that a high Mg(2+) concentration promotes the dynamic formation of unconventional DNA structure(s), thus limiting the apparent processivity of the enzyme. Next, we found that Zn(2+) supported robust polα reactions when the concentration of nucleotides was above the concentration of ions; however, there was only one nucleotide incorporation by the Klenow fragment of DNA pol I. Zn(2+) drastically inhibited polα, but had no effect on Klenow, when Mg(2+) was also present. It is possible that Zn(2+) perturbs metal-mediated transactions in pol active site, for example affecting the step of pyrophosphate removal at the end of each pol cycle necessary for continuation of polymerization.

Recent advances in hantavirus molecular biology and disease

Hantaviruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens that belong to the Bunyaviridae family. They have been classified as category A pathogens by CDC (centers for disease control and prevention). Hantaviruses pose a serious threat to human health because their infection causes two highly fatal diseases, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). These pathogens are transmitted to humans through aerosolized excreta of their infected rodent hosts. Hantaviruses have a tripartite-segmented negative-sense RNA genome. The three genomic RNA segments, S, M, and L, encode a nucleocapsid protein (N), a precursor glycoprotein that is processed into two envelope glycoproteins (Gn and Gc) and the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively. N protein is the major structural component of the virus, its main function is to protect and encapsidate the three genomic RNAs forming three viral ribonucleocapsids. Recent studies have proposed that N in conjunction with RdRp plays important roles in the transcription and replication of viral genome. In addition, N preferentially facilitates the translation of viral mRNA in cells. Glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, play major roles in viral attachment and entry to the host cells, virulence, and assembly and packaging of new virions in infected cells. RdRp functions as RNA replicase and transcriptase to replicate and transcribe the viral RNA and is also thought to have endonuclease activity. Currently, no antiviral therapy or vaccine is available for the treatment of hantavirus-associated diseases. Understanding the molecular details of hantavirus life cycle will help in the identification of targets for antiviral therapeutics and in the design of potential antiviral drug for the treatment of HFRS and HCPS. Due to the alarming fatality of hantavirus diseases, development of an effective vaccine against hantaviruses is a necessity.

Single-molecule imaging of DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) activity by atomic force microscopy

We report a DNA origami-facilitated single-molecule platform that exploits atomic force microscopy to study DNA replication. We imaged several functional activities of the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I (KF) including binding, moving, and dissociation from the template DNA. Upon completion of these actions, a double-stranded DNA molecule was formed. Furthermore, the direction of KF activities was captured and then confirmed by shifting the KF binding sites on the template DNA.

Activation and reactivation of the RNA polymerase II trigger loop for intrinsic RNA cleavage and catalysis

In addition to RNA synthesis, multisubunit RNA polymerases (msRNAPs) support enzymatic reactions such as intrinsic transcript cleavage. msRNAP active sites from different species appear to exhibit differential intrinsic transcript cleavage efficiency and have likely evolved to allow fine-tuning of the transcription process. Here we show that a single amino-acid substitution in the trigger loop (TL) of Saccharomyces RNAP II, Rpb1 H1085Y, engenders a gain of intrinsic cleavage activity where the substituted tyrosine appears to participate in acid-base chemistry at alkaline pH for both intrinsic cleavage and nucleotidyl transfer. We extensively characterize this TL substitution for each of these reactions by examining the responses RNAP II enzymes to catalytic metals, altered pH, and factor inputs. We demonstrate that TFIIF stimulation of the first phosphodiester bond formation by RNAP II requires wild type TL function and that H1085Y substitution within the TL compromises or alters RNAP II responsiveness to both TFIIB and TFIIF. Finally, Mn(2+) stimulation of H1085Y RNAP II reveals possible allosteric effects of TFIIB on the active center and cooperation between TFIIB and TFIIF.

Catalytic Mechanism of Mammalian Adenylyl Cyclase: A Computational Investigation

Adenylyl cyclase (AC) catalyzes the synthesis of cyclic AMP, an important intracellular regulatory molecule, from ATP. We propose a catalytic mechanism for class III mammalian AC based on density functional theory calculations. We employ a model of the AC active site derived from a crystal structure of mammalian AC activated by Gα·GTP and forskolin at separate allosteric sites. We compared the calculated activation free energies for 13 possible reaction sequences involving proton transfer, nucleophilic attack, and elimination of pyrophosphate. The proposed most probable mechanism is initiated by deprotonation of 3'OH and water-mediated transfer of the 3'H to the γ-phosphate. Proton transfer is followed by changes in coordination of the two magnesium ion cofactors and changes in the conformation of ATP to enhance the role of 3'O as a nucleophile and to bring 3'O close to Pα. The subsequent phosphoryl transfer step is concerted and rate-limiting. Comparison of the enzyme-catalyzed and nonenzymatic reactions reveals that the active site residues lower the free energy barrier for both phosphoryl transfer and proton transfer and significantly shift the proton transfer equilibrium. Calculations for mutants K1065A and R1029A demonstrate that K1065 plays a significant role in shifting the proton transfer equilibrium, whereas R1029 is important for making the transition state of concerted phosphoryl transfer tight rather than loose.

Primase-polymerases are a functionally diverse superfamily of replication and repair enzymes

Until relatively recently, DNA primases were viewed simply as a class of proteins that synthesize short RNA primers requisite for the initiation of DNA replication. However, recent studies have shown that this perception of the limited activities associated with these diverse enzymes can no longer be justified. Numerous examples can now be cited demonstrating how the term ‘DNA primase’ only describes a very narrow subset of these nucleotidyltransferases, with the vast majority fulfilling multifunctional roles from DNA replication to damage tolerance and repair. This article focuses on the archaeo-eukaryotic primase (AEP) superfamily, drawing on recently characterized examples from all domains of life to highlight the functionally diverse pathways in which these enzymes are employed. The broad origins, functionalities and enzymatic capabilities of AEPs emphasizes their previous functional misannotation and supports the necessity for a reclassification of these enzymes under a category called primase-polymerases within the wider functional grouping of polymerases. Importantly, the repositioning of AEPs in this way better recognizes their broader roles in DNA metabolism and encourages the discovery of additional functions for these enzymes, aside from those highlighted here.

Domain movements during CCA-addition: a new function for motif C in the catalytic core of the human tRNA nucleotidyltransferases

CCA-adding enzymes are highly specific RNA polymerases that synthesize and maintain the sequence CCA at the tRNA 3'-end. This nucleotide triplet is a prerequisite for tRNAs to be aminoacylated and to participate in protein biosynthesis. During CCA-addition, a set of highly conserved motifs in the catalytic core of these enzymes is responsible for accurate sequential nucleotide incorporation. In the nucleotide binding pocket, three amino acid residues form Watson-Crick-like base pairs to the incoming CTP and ATP. A reorientation of these templating amino acids switches the enzyme's specificity from CTP to ATP recognition. However, the mechanism underlying this essential structural rearrangement is not understood. Here, we show that motif C, whose actual function has not been identified yet, contributes to the switch in nucleotide specificity during polymerization. Biochemical characterization as well as EPR spectroscopy measurements of the human enzyme reveal that mutating the highly conserved amino acid position D139 in this motif interferes with AMP incorporation and affects interdomain movements in the enzyme. We propose a model of action, where motif C forms a flexible spring element modulating the relative orientation of the enzyme's head and body domains to accommodate the growing 3'-end of the tRNA. Furthermore, these conformational transitions initiate the rearranging of the templating amino acids to switch the specificity of the nucleotide binding pocket from CTP to ATP during CCA-synthesis.

Ultrafast water dynamics at the interface of the polymerase-DNA binding complex

DNA polymerases slide on DNA during replication, and the interface must be mobile for various conformational changes. The role of lubricant interfacial water is not understood. In this report, we systematically characterize the water dynamics at the interface and in the active site of a tight binding polymerase (pol β) in its binary complex and ternary state using tryptophan as a local optical probe. Using femtosecond spectroscopy, we observed that upon DNA recognition the surface hydration water is significantly confined and becomes bound water at the interface, but the dynamics are still ultrafast and occur on the picosecond time scale. These interfacial water molecules are not trapped but are mobile in the heterogeneous binding nanospace. Combining our findings with our previous observation of ultrafast water motions at the interface of a loose binding polymerase (Dpo4), we conclude that the binding interface is dynamic and the water molecules in various binding clefts, channels, and caves are mobile and even fluid with different levels of mobility for loose or tight binding polymerases. Such a dynamic interface should be general to all DNA polymerase complexes to ensure the biological function of DNA synthesis.

OAS proteins and cGAS: unifying concepts in sensing and responding to cytosolic nucleic acids

The presence of nucleic acids in the cytosol alerts the cell to viral infection or damaged self. The oligoadenylate synthase (OAS) proteins and cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS) are enzymes that detect this danger and promote antiviral immunity. Recent structural studies reveal that these enzymes have a common mechanism of action and probably the same evolutionary origin.

Recent discoveries in the field of innate immunity have highlighted the existence of a family of nucleic acid-sensing proteins that have similar structural and functional properties. These include the well-known oligoadenylate synthase (OAS) family proteins and the recently identified OAS homologue cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS). The OAS proteins and cGAS are template-independent nucleotidyltransferases that, once activated by double-stranded nucleic acids in the cytosol, produce unique classes of 2′–5′-linked second messenger molecules, which — through distinct mechanisms — have crucial antiviral functions. 2′–5′-linked oligoadenylates limit viral propagation through the activation of the enzyme RNase L, which degrades host and viral RNA, and 2′–5′-linked cGAMP activates downstream signalling pathways to induce de novo antiviral gene expression. In this Progress article, we describe the striking functional and structural similarities between OAS proteins and cGAS, and highlight their roles in antiviral immunity.

Reaction mechanism of adenylyltransferase DrrA from Legionella pneumophila elucidated by time-resolved fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Modulation of the function of small GTPases that regulate vesicular trafficking is a strategy employed by several human pathogens. Legionella pneumophila infects lung macrophages and injects a plethora of different proteins into its host cell. Among these is DrrA/SidM, which catalyzes stable adenylylation of Rab1b, a regulator of endoplasmatic reticulum to Golgi trafficking, and thereby alters the function and interactions of this small GTPase. We employed time-resolved FTIR-spectroscopy to monitor the DrrA-catalyzed AMP-transfer to Tyr77 of Rab1b. A transient complex between DrrA, adenylylated Rab1b, and the pyrophosphate byproduct was resolved, allowing us to analyze the interactions at the active site. Combination of isotopic labeling and site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to derive the catalytic mechanism of DrrA from the FTIR difference spectra. DrrA shares crucial residues in the ATP-binding pocket with similar AMP-transferring enzymes such as glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase or kanamycin nucleotidyltransferase, but provides the complete active site on a single subunit. We determined that Asp112 of DrrA functions as the catalytic base for deprotonation of Tyr77 of Rab1b to enable nucleophilic attack on the ATP. The study provides detailed understanding of the Legionella pneumophila protein DrrA and of AMP-transfer reactions in general.

How a low-fidelity DNA polymerase chooses non-Watson-Crick from Watson-Crick incorporation

A dogma for DNA polymerase catalysis is that the enzyme binds DNA first, followed by MgdNTP. This mechanism contributes to the selection of correct dNTP by Watson-Crick base pairing, but it cannot explain how low-fidelity DNA polymerases overcome Watson-Crick base pairing to catalyze non-Watson-Crick dNTP incorporation. DNA polymerase X from the deadly African swine fever virus (Pol X) is a half-sized repair polymerase that catalyzes efficient dG:dGTP incorporation in addition to correct repair. Here we report the use of solution structures of Pol X in the free, binary (Pol X:MgdGTP), and ternary (Pol X:DNA:MgdGTP with dG:dGTP non-Watson-Crick pairing) forms, along with functional analyses, to show that Pol X uses multiple unprecedented strategies to achieve the mutagenic dG:dGTP incorporation. Unlike high fidelity polymerases, Pol X can prebind purine MgdNTP tightly and undergo a specific conformational change in the absence of DNA. The prebound MgdGTP assumes an unusual syn conformation stabilized by partial ring stacking with His115. Upon binding of a gapped DNA, also with a unique mechanism involving primarily helix αE, the prebound syn-dGTP forms a Hoogsteen base pair with the template anti-dG. Interestingly, while Pol X prebinds MgdCTP weakly, the correct dG:dCTP ternary complex is readily formed in the presence of DNA. H115A mutation disrupted MgdGTP binding and dG:dGTP ternary complex formation but not dG:dCTP ternary complex formation. The results demonstrate the first solution structural view of DNA polymerase catalysis, a unique DNA binding mode, and a novel mechanism for non-Watson-Crick incorporation by a low-fidelity DNA polymerase.