DNA polymerase III holoenzyme from Thermus thermophilus identification, expression, purification of components, and use to reconstitute a processive replicase. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • DNA replication in bacteria is performed by a specialized multicomponent replicase, the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, that consist of three essential components: a polymerase, the beta sliding clamp processivity factor, and the DnaX complex clamp-loader. We report here the assembly of the minimal functional holoenzyme from Thermus thermophilus (Tth), an extreme thermophile. The minimal holoenzyme consists of alpha (pol III catalytic subunit), beta (sliding clamp processivity factor), and the essential DnaX (tau/gamma), delta and delta' components of the DnaX complex. We show with purified recombinant proteins that these five components are required for rapid and processive DNA synthesis on long single-stranded DNA templates. Subunit interactions known to occur in DNA polymerase III holoenzyme from mesophilic bacteria including delta-delta' interaction, deltadelta'-tau/gamma complex formation, and alpha-tau interaction, also occur within the Tth enzyme. As in mesophilic holoenzymes, in the presence of a primed DNA template, these subunits assemble into a stable initiation complex in an ATP-dependent manner. However, in contrast to replicative polymerases from mesophilic bacteria, Tth holoenzyme is efficient only at temperatures above 50 degrees C, both with regard to initiation complex formation and processive DNA synthesis. The minimal Tth DNA polymerase III holoenzyme displays an elongation rate of 350 bp/s at 72 degrees C and a processivity of greater than 8.6 kilobases, the length of the template that is fully replicated after a single association event.

publication date

  • April 19, 2002

has subject area

has restriction

  • hybrid

Date in CU Experts

  • October 1, 2013 12:09 PM

Full Author List

  • Bullard JM; Williams JC; Acker WK; Jacobi C; Janjic N; McHenry CS

author count

  • 6

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0021-9258

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 13401

end page

  • 13408

volume

  • 277

issue

  • 16