ISSN:
1617-4623
Keywords:
DNA polymerase α
;
Budding yeast
;
Fission yeast
;
Species specificity
;
Complementation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The DNA polymerase a enzymes from human, and budding (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) are homologous proteins involved in initiation and replication of chromosomal DNA. Sequence comparision of human DNA polymerase α with that of S. cerevisiae and S. pombe shows overall levels of amino acid sequence identity of 32% and 34%, respectively. We report here that, despite the sequence conservation among these three enzymes, functionally active human DNA polymerase a fails to rescue several different conditional lethal alleles of the budding yeast POL1 gene at nonpermissive temperature. Furthermore, human DNA polymerase α cannot complement a null allele of budding yeast POL1 either in germinating spores or in vegetatively growing cells. In fission yeast, functionally active human DNA polymerase α is also unable to complement the disrupted polα::ura4 + allele in germinating spores. Thus, in vivo, DNA polymerase α has stringent species specificity for initiation and replication of chromosomal DNA.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00284700
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