Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Structural basis for uracil recognition by archaeal family B DNA polymerases

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Bernard Connolly

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Deamination of cytosine to uracil in a G-C base pair is a major promutagenic event, generating G-C→A-T mutations if not repaired before DNA replication. Archaeal family B DNA polymerases are uniquely able to recognize unrepaired uracil in a template strand and stall polymerization upstream of the lesion, thereby preventing the irreversible fixation of an A-T mutation. We have now identified a 'pocket' in the N-terminal domains of archaeal DNA polymerases that is positioned to interact with the template strand and provide this ability. The structure of this pocket provides interacting groups that discriminate uracil from the four normal DNA bases (including thymine). These groups are conserved in archaeal polymerases but absent from homologous viral polymerases that are unable to recognize uracil. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have confirmed the biological role of this pocket and have engineered specific mutations in the Pfu polymerase that confer the ability to read through template-strand uracils and carry out PCR with dUTP in place of dTTP.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Connolly BA; Fogg MJ; Pearl LH

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Structural Biology

Year: 2002

Volume: 9

Issue: 12

Pages: 922-927

ISSN (print): 1072-8368

ISSN (electronic): 1545-9985

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nsb867

DOI: 10.1038/nsb867

PubMed id: 12415291


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share