Primase-polymerases are a functionally diverse superfamily of replication and repair enzymes.

ABSTRACT: Until relatively recently, DNA primases were viewed simply as a class of proteins that synthesize short RNA primers requisite for the initiation of DNA replication. However, recent studies have shown that this perception of the limited activities associated with these diverse enzymes can no longer be justified. Numerous examples can now be cited demonstrating how the term 'DNA primase' only describes a very narrow subset of these nucleotidyltransferases, with the vast majority fulfilling multifunctional roles from DNA replication to damage tolerance and repair. This article focuses on the archaeo-eukaryotic primase (AEP) superfamily, drawing on recently characterized examples from all domains of life to highlight the functionally diverse pathways in which these enzymes are employed. The br

SUBMITTER: Guilliam TA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4538821 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature