DNA Replication Fidelity

Errol C Friedberg, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
Paula L Fischhaber, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA

Published online: January 2006

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0006172

DNA polymerases are proteins that catalyse the polymerization of DNA. Fidelity in this process refers to the ability of the polymerase to avoid or to correct errors in the newly synthesized DNA strand.

Keywords: DNA polymerase; DNA replication; replicational fidelity; Y family polymerases; xeroderma pigmentosum; mutation

Figure 1. Steps of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerization depicting the correct incorporation of thymidine 5¢-monophosphate. The ‘thumb’, ‘palm’ and ‘finger’ domains are shown in purple, blue and orange respectively. The green domain represents the ‘PAD’ or ‘little finger’ domain that has thus far been identified only in low-fidelity Y family DNA polymerases. The red transluscent domain (in two of the drawings) represents the 3¢5¢ exonuclease domain, which is not present in Y family polymerases. ‘†’ represents the transition state for enzyme catalysis. dTTP: thymidine 5¢-triphosphate; PPi: pyrophosphate; dTMP: thymidine 5¢-monophosphate. The curved black arrows denote movement of the ‘thumb’ and ‘fingers’ domains.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Nucleic Acid Structure | Replication and Recombination | Transcription of DNA | Chromosomes and Chromatin Modifications | DNA Structure and Function | Enzymes: Structure and Action Mechanism | Nucleic Acids: Structure, Function, Metabolism
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Article Title: DNA Replication Fidelity
 
How to Cite close
Friedberg, Errol C, and Fischhaber, Paula L(Jan 2006) DNA Replication Fidelity. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0006172]