Recent insight into the kinetic mechanisms and conformational dynamics of Y-Family DNA polymerases.

ABSTRACT: The kinetic mechanisms by which DNA polymerases catalyze DNA replication and repair have long been areas of active research. Recently discovered Y-family DNA polymerases catalyze the bypass of damaged DNA bases that would otherwise block replicative DNA polymerases and stall replication forks. Unlike DNA polymerases from the five other families, the Y-family DNA polymerases have flexible, solvent-accessible active sites that are able to tolerate various types of damaged template bases and allow for efficient lesion bypass. Their promiscuous active sites, however, also lead to fidelities that are much lower than those observed for other DNA polymerases and give rise to interesting mechanistic properties. Additionally, the Y-family DNA polymerases have several other unique structural feature

SUBMITTER: Maxwell BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4018064 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature