SNAP output for PDB entry 3c5g [SNAP web server]

PDB-id

3c5g; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB

Class

transferase-DNA, lyase-DNA

Method

X-ray (2.2 Å)

Summary

Structure of a ternary complex of the r517k pol lambda mutant

Reference

Bebenek K, Garcia-Diaz M, Foley MC, Pedersen LC, Schlick T, Kunkel TA (2008): "Substrate-induced DNA strand misalignment during catalytic cycling by DNA polymerase lambda." Embo Rep., 9, 459-464. doi: 10.1038/embor.2008.33.

Abstract

The simple deletion of nucleotides is common in many organisms. It can be advantageous when it activates genes beneficial to microbial survival in adverse environments, and deleterious when it mutates genes relevant to survival, cancer or degenerative diseases. The classical idea is that simple deletions arise by strand slippage. A prime opportunity for slippage occurs during DNA synthesis, but it remains unclear how slippage is controlled during a polymerization cycle. Here, we report crystal structures and molecular dynamics simulations of mutant derivatives of DNA polymerase lambda bound to a primer-template during strand slippage. Relative to the primer strand, the template strand is in multiple conformations, indicating intermediates on the pathway to deletion mutagenesis. Consistent with these intermediates, the mutant polymerases generate single-base deletions at high rates. The results indicate that dNTP-induced template strand repositioning during conformational rearrangements in the catalytic cycle is crucial to controlling the rate of strand slippage.