DNA polymerase alpha catalytic subunit is an
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''POLA1''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
Function
This gene encodes the p180 catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase α-primase. Pol α has limited
processivity
In molecular biology and biochemistry, processivity is an enzyme's ability to catalyze "consecutive reactions without releasing its substrate".
For example, processivity is the average number of nucleotides added by a polymerase enzyme, such as ...
and lacks 3′
exonuclease activity for proofreading errors. Thus it is not well suited to efficiently and accurately copy long templates (unlike Pol Delta and Epsilon). Instead it plays a more limited role in replication. Pol α is responsible for the initiation of DNA replication at origins of replication (on both the leading and lagging strands) and during synthesis of
Okazaki fragment
Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA nucleotides (approximately 150 to 200 base pairs long in eukaryotes) which are synthesized discontinuously and later linked together by the enzyme DNA ligase to create the lagging strand during DNA ...
s on the lagging strand. The Pol α complex (pol α-DNA primase complex) consists of four subunits: the catalytic subunit POLA1, the regulatory subunit
POLA2, and the small and the large primase subunits PRIM1 and PRIM2 respectively. Once primase has created the RNA primer, Pol α starts replication elongating the primer with ~20 nucleotides.
Clinical significance
In addition to its role during DNA replication, POLA1 plays a role in type I interferon activation. The POLA1 gene was found to be the site of a mutation resulting in
X-linked reticulate pigmentary disorder (XLPDR), OMI
301220. This leads to altered mRNA splicing and decreased expression of POLA1 protein to a level that does not impair DNA replication. The reduction in POLA1 expression is accompanied by marked reduction in cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrid molecules and a concomitant hyperactivation of the IRF3 pathway, with consequent overproduction of type I interferons.
Moreover, POLA1 deficiency, typical for XLPDR, also impair direct cytotoxicity of NK cells. POLA1 inhibition or a natural deficiency (XLPDR) affects the way the lytic granules secreted toward target cells. As a result, NK cells in XLPDR patients display functional deficiency. Interestingly, the POLA1 deficiency typical for XLPDR is not associated with any genomic damages or cell cycle arrest.
While the XLPDR mutation is resided in intron 13th, other somatic mutations in POLA1 were also described. Somatic mutation are associated with more profound deficiency of POLA1, with develops into X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). In a case of non-XLPDR mutations, beside of type I interferon signature patients also display mild to medium signs of intellectual disability, cell cycle arrest, proportionate short stature,
microcephaly
Microcephaly (from New Latin ''microcephalia'', from Ancient Greek μικρός ''mikrós'' "small" and κεφαλή ''kephalé'' "head") is a medical condition involving a smaller-than-normal head. Microcephaly may be present at birth or it ...
and
hypogonadism
Hypogonadism means diminished functional activity of the gonads—the testes or the ovaries—that may result in diminished production of sex hormones. Low androgen (e.g., testosterone) levels are referred to as hypoandrogenism and low estroge ...
.
Interactions
DNA dependent polymerase alpha (Pol α) has been shown to
interact
Advocates for Informed Choice, dba interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children with intersex traits. The organizati ...
with
MCM4
DNA replication licensing factor MCM4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''MCM4'' gene.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene is one of the highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance proteins (MCM) that are essential for the i ...
and
GINS1,
Retinoblastoma protein
The retinoblastoma protein (protein name abbreviated pRb; gene name abbreviated ''Rb'', ''RB'' or ''RB1'') is a proto-oncogenic tumor suppressor protein that is dysfunctional in several major cancers. One function of pRb is to prevent excessive ...
,
PARP1
Poly DP-ribosepolymerase 1 (PARP-1) also known as NAD+ ADP-ribosyltransferase 1 or poly DP-ribosesynthase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''PARP1'' gene. It is the most abundant of the PARP family of enzymes, accounting for 90% o ...
and
RBMS1.
See also
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DNA Polymerase
A DNA polymerase is a member of a family of enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of DNA molecules from nucleoside triphosphates, the molecular precursors of DNA. These enzymes are essential for DNA replication and usually work in groups to create ...
*
DNA polymerase alpha subunit 2
References
External links
PDBe-KBprovides an overview of all the structure information available in the PDB for Human DNA polymerase alpha catalytic subunit
Further reading
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