DNA polymerase I (Pol I) of E. coli is an enzyme that plays an important role in the cell both during replication, in the processing of Okazaki fragments, and in the repair of damaged DNA. Now that the three-dimensional structure of an active fragment of Pol I (the Klenow fragment) has been solved, this enzyme is undoubtedly the best model system for the study of the molecular details of replication, and for an investigation of the way in which processive enzyme can coordinate synthesis with movement along a macromolecule. We have been collaborating closely with the x-ray crystallographers in interpreting the Klenow fragment structure, and we plan to continue these studies. We believe that the two domains seen in the Klenow fragment structure correspond to separable polymerase and 3'-5' exonuclease (editing) activities; we shall test this idea by investigating the enzymatic properties of the isolated domains. Using a combination of genetic and biochemical techniques, we have obtained evidence supporting the location of the DNA binding site inferred from model building. We have also tentatively identified the polymerase and 3'-5' exonuclease active sites. To confirm the location of these active sites and to identify critical amino acid residues within them, we shall use site-specific and localized mutagenesis techniques to generate altered forms of Klenow fragment. The mutant enzymes will be purified and characterized in vitro in order to determine the effect of each mutation on substrate binding and catalysis. The polymerase-DNA interaction will be examined biochemically by identifying positions of phosphates (relative to the primer terminus) that contact the protein. Further studies on the enzyme-DNA interaction will examine whether the Klenow fragment interacts differently with its DNA substrate in each of its two enzymatic roles, whether there is a change in conformation on binding DNA, and how the enzyme distinguishes between the different types of nicked and gapped duplexes encountered in vivo. While this project has no direct health-related application, it is clear that an improved understanding of those processes in DNA replication and repair that maintain the integrity of the genome should eventually provide insights into the mechanisms of mutagenesis and thus of carcinogenesis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM028550-08
Application #
3275806
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1980-05-01
Project End
1991-04-30
Budget Start
1987-05-01
Budget End
1988-04-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Hohlbein, Johannes; Aigrain, Louise; Craggs, Timothy D et al. (2013) Conformational landscapes of DNA polymerase I and mutator derivatives establish fidelity checkpoints for nucleotide insertion. Nat Commun 4:2131
Bermek, Oya; Grindley, Nigel D F; Joyce, Catherine M (2013) Prechemistry nucleotide selection checkpoints in the reaction pathway of DNA polymerase I and roles of glu710 and tyr766. Biochemistry 52:6258-74
Bermek, Oya; Grindley, Nigel D F; Joyce, Catherine M (2011) Distinct roles of the active-site Mg2+ ligands, Asp882 and Asp705, of DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) during the prechemistry conformational transitions. J Biol Chem 286:3755-66
Foti, James J; Delucia, Angela M; Joyce, Catherine M et al. (2010) UmuD(2) inhibits a non-covalent step during DinB-mediated template slippage on homopolymeric nucleotide runs. J Biol Chem 285:23086-95
Santoso, Yusdi; Joyce, Catherine M; Potapova, Olga et al. (2010) Conformational transitions in DNA polymerase I revealed by single-molecule FRET. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107:715-20
Joyce, Catherine M (2010) Techniques used to study the DNA polymerase reaction pathway. Biochim Biophys Acta 1804:1032-40
Joyce, Catherine M; Potapova, Olga; Delucia, Angela M et al. (2008) Fingers-closing and other rapid conformational changes in DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) and their role in nucleotide selectivity. Biochemistry 47:6103-16
DeLucia, Angela M; Grindley, Nigel D F; Joyce, Catherine M (2007) Conformational changes during normal and error-prone incorporation of nucleotides by a Y-family DNA polymerase detected by 2-aminopurine fluorescence. Biochemistry 46:10790-803
DeLucia, Angela M; Chaudhuri, Santanov; Potapova, Olga et al. (2006) The properties of steric gate mutants reveal different constraints within the active sites of Y-family and A-family DNA polymerases. J Biol Chem 281:27286-91
Potapova, Olga; Chan, Chikio; DeLucia, Angela M et al. (2006) DNA polymerase catalysis in the absence of Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds: analysis by single-turnover kinetics. Biochemistry 45:890-8

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