Aspergillus fumigatus PolX1 is an early ancestor of vertebrate terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases.

ABSTRACT: X-family DNA polymerases (PolXs) perform essential roles in repair and maintenance of the genome. One branch of the PolXs have evolved to function as terminal transferases, extending DNA ends in a template-independent manner, unusual for polymerases. To date, template independence has been shown exclusively in metazoans. We analysed PolXs to determine the phylogenetic evolution of the terminal transferase function in fungal PolXs. We have identified and characterised a PolX from the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, named AfPolX1, that demonstrates inherent terminal transferase ability under physiologically relevant conditions. This is the first report for a fungal terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Our findings indicate that template-independent 'creative' synthesis evol

SUBMITTER: Parveen N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828229 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature