Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
Proofreading01:31

Proofreading

Synthesis of new DNA molecules is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides on the daughter strand complementary to the template DNA strand. DNA polymerase has a higher affinity to add the correct base and ensures fidelity during DNA replication. Furthermore,  it exhibits proofreading activity during replication, using an exonuclease domain that cuts off incorrect nucleotides from the nascent DNA strand.
Errors During Replication are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase Enzyme
Proofreading01:43

Proofreading

Overview
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
The Replisome03:01

The Replisome

DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Interactions of Dengue Virus NS5 and NS3 with the 3' End of Its Negative-Strand RNA.

Viruses·2026
Same author

Interaction of West Nile virus NS5 with orthoflavivirus SLA RNAs and their effects on viral replication and inhibition.

Journal of virology·2025
Same author

Phi29 assembly intermediates reveal how scaffold interactions with capsid protein drive capsid construction and maturation.

Science advances·2025
Same author

Structure of coxsackievirus cloverleaf RNA and 3C<sup>pro</sup> dimer establishes the RNA-binding mechanism of enterovirus protease 3C<sup>pro</sup>.

Science advances·2025
Same author

Structure of HIV-1 RRE stem-loop II identifies two conformational states of the high-affinity Rev binding site.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

High-resolution RNA tertiary structures in Zika virus stem-loop A for the development of inhibitory small molecules.

RNA (New York, N.Y.)·2024
Same journal

Mammalian Respiratory Chain Complex Assemblies and Their Links to Mitochondria Stress-Induced Human Diseases.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Enzyme Assemblies in Nucleotide Metabolism: Structure, Regulation, and Disease Implications.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex: A 90-Year-Old Enigma Shaping the Future of Structural Enzymology.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Regulation of the Anti-termination RNA Transcription Complex by Lon-Mediated Lambda N Degradation.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

PCNA Macromolecular Complexes: PCNA Serves as a Molecular Hub Regulating Multiple Cellular Processes Inside and Outside of the Nucleus.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same journal

Dynamic Assemblies in Genome Maintenance.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

DNA Polymerase Activity Assay Using Near-infrared Fluorescent Labeled DNA Visualized by Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
07:38

DNA Polymerase Activity Assay Using Near-infrared Fluorescent Labeled DNA Visualized by Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Published on: October 6, 2017

Viral polymerases.

Kyung H Choi1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. kychoi@utmb.edu

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|February 3, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viral polymerases are key to viral replication and transcription. This review explores their diverse roles and interactions with viral proteins for genome synthesis.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

DNA Polymerase Activity Assay Using Near-infrared Fluorescent Labeled DNA Visualized by Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
07:38

DNA Polymerase Activity Assay Using Near-infrared Fluorescent Labeled DNA Visualized by Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Published on: October 6, 2017

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
18:10

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

Published on: June 16, 2011

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Viral polymerases are essential enzymes for replicating and transcribing viral genetic material.
  • Different viruses utilize various types of polymerases (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, DNA-dependent RNA polymerase) based on their genome type.
  • These enzymes often function as single proteins with multiple catalytic activities crucial for viral propagation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse strategies employed by viruses for genome replication and transcription.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of viral polymerases in recognizing binding sites, ensuring processive elongation, and terminating replication.
  • To examine the interactions between viral polymerases and other viral proteins essential for genome synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on viral polymerases and genome replication.
  • Analysis of different viral genome types and their associated polymerase functions.
  • Examination of molecular mechanisms underlying polymerase activity and protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Viral polymerases exhibit varied mechanisms for initiating, elongating, and terminating nucleic acid synthesis.
  • Interactions with viral proteins are critical for coordinating polymerase activity and completing genome replication.
  • The diversity of viral polymerases reflects the evolutionary adaptations of viruses to their specific replication strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Viral polymerases are versatile enzymes central to viral life cycles.
  • Understanding polymerase function and interactions is crucial for developing antiviral strategies.
  • This review provides a comprehensive overview of viral polymerase roles in genome replication and transcription.