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Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is highly conserved and tightly regulated. Multiple linear chromosomes must be duplicated with high fidelity before cell division, so there are many proteins that fulfill specialized roles in the replication process. Replication occurs in three phases: initiation, elongation, and termination, and ends with two complete sets of chromosomes in the nucleus.
Many Proteins Orchestrate Replication at the Origin
Eukaryotic replication follows many of the same...

Replication in Eukaryotes

Replication in Eukaryotes

Proofreading

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...

Proofreading

Proofreading

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

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...

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Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ.

Alena V Makarova¹, Peter M Burgers²

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences (IMG RAS), Kurchatov Sq. 2, Moscow 123182, Russia.

|March 5, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) drives mutagenesis during DNA damage and normal cell growth. Its four-subunit structure and interactions with Rev1 and PCNA, modulated by posttranslational modifications, are key to translesion synthesis.

Keywords:

DNA polymerase Mutagenesis PCNA Translesion synthesis

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Cell Biology

Background:

DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) is central to eukaryotic mutagenesis.
It mediates mutations in response to DNA damage and during normal cell replication.
Understanding Pol ζ's structure and function is crucial for comprehending DNA repair and genomic stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advances in understanding the subunit structure of eukaryotic DNA polymerase ζ.
To explore the interactions of Pol ζ with other cellular factors like Rev1 and PCNA.
To highlight the role of posttranslational modifications in regulating Pol ζ activity.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on DNA polymerase ζ structure and function.
Analysis of research on protein-protein interactions involving Pol ζ.
Examination of studies on posttranslational modifications affecting Pol ζ activity.

Main Results:

Eukaryotic Pol ζ is a four-subunit complex involving shared subunits with DNA polymerase δ (Pol31, Pol32).
Pol ζ interacts with Rev1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which are essential for its mutagenic activity.
Posttranslational modifications, including ubiquitination and phosphorylation, regulate Pol ζ's role in translesion synthesis (TLS).

Conclusions:

The elucidated subunit structure of Pol ζ provides novel insights into its mutagenic mechanisms.
Interactions with Rev1 and PCNA, alongside posttranslational modifications, are critical for Pol ζ-mediated mutagenesis.
Further research into Pol ζ regulation could offer therapeutic targets for diseases involving DNA repair defects.