Chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA polymerases from cultured soybean cells

DNA polymerases were purified from chloroplasts and mitochondria of cultured Glycine max cells. The chloroplast enzyme exists in two forms which are indistinguishable from each other biochemically. All three organellar enzymes have an estimated molecular weight of 85,000 to 90,000 and prefer poly(rA)dT(12-18) over activated DNA as a template in vitro. Maximum activity of the chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA polymerases requires KCl and a reducing agent, and the enzymes are completely resistant to inhibitors of DNA polymerase alpha. Taken together, these properties classify the soybean organellar enzymes as DNA polymerases gamma. A unique feature that distinguishes the plant enzymes from their animal counterparts is their resistance to dideoxyribonucleotides.