Visualizing DNA replication in a catalytically active Bacillus DNA polymerase crystal.
Published
Journal Article
DNA polymerases copy DNA templates with remarkably high fidelity, checking for correct base-pair formation both at nucleotide insertion and at subsequent DNA extension steps. Despite extensive biochemical, genetic and structural studies, the mechanism by which nucleotides are correctly incorporated is not known. Here we present high-resolution crystal structures of a thermostable bacterial (Bacillus stearothermophilus) DNA polymerase I large fragments with DNA primer templates bound productively at the polymerase active site. The active site retains catalytic activity, allowing direct observation of the products of several rounds of nucleotide incorporation. The polymerase also retains its ability to discriminate between correct and incorrectly paired nucleotides in the crystal. Comparison of the structures of successively translocated complexes allows the structural features for the sequence-independent molecular recognition of correctly formed base pairs to be deduced unambiguously. These include extensive interactions with the first four to five base pairs in the minor groove, location of the terminal base pair in a pocket of excellent steric complementarity favouring correct base-pair formation, and a conformational switch from B-form to underwound A-form DNA at the polymerase active site.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Kiefer, JR; Mao, C; Braman, JC; Beese, LS
Published Date
- January 15, 1998
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 391 / 6664
Start / End Page
- 304 - 307
PubMed ID
- 9440698
Pubmed Central ID
- 9440698
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0028-0836
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/34693
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England