Beyond translesion synthesis: polymerase κ fidelity as a potential determinant of microsatellite stability

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Feb;40(4):1636-47. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr889. Epub 2011 Oct 22.

Abstract

Microsatellite DNA synthesis represents a significant component of human genome replication that must occur faithfully. However, yeast replicative DNA polymerases do not possess high fidelity for microsatellite synthesis. We hypothesized that the structural features of Y-family polymerases that facilitate accurate translesion synthesis may promote accurate microsatellite synthesis. We compared human polymerases κ (Pol κ) and η (Pol η) fidelities to that of replicative human polymerase δ holoenzyme (Pol δ4), using the in vitro HSV-tk assay. Relative polymerase accuracy for insertion/deletion (indel) errors within 2-3 unit repeats internal to the HSV-tk gene concurred with the literature: Pol δ4 >> Pol κ or Pol η. In contrast, relative polymerase accuracy for unit-based indel errors within [GT](10) and [TC](11) microsatellites was: Pol κ ≥ Pol δ4 > Pol η. The magnitude of difference was greatest between Pols κ and δ4 with the [GT] template. Biochemically, Pol κ displayed less synthesis termination within the [GT] allele than did Pol δ4. In dual polymerase reactions, Pol κ competed with either a stalled or moving Pol δ4, thereby reducing termination. Our results challenge the ideology that pol κ is error prone, and suggest that DNA polymerases with complementary biochemical properties can function cooperatively at repetitive sequences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Polymerase III / metabolism
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • INDEL Mutation
  • Microsatellite Instability*
  • Microsatellite Repeats*

Substances

  • DNA
  • DNA Polymerase III
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • POLK protein, human
  • Rad30 protein