Function of DNA Polymerase &amp;alpha; in a Replication Fork and its Putative Roles in Genomic Stability and Eukaryotic Evolution

Takemura, Masaharu

doi:10.5772/18142

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 111 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Eukaryotes possess four B-family DNA polymerases named DNA polymerase a (pol-a), DNA polymerase d (pol-d), DNA polymerase e (pol-e), and DNA polymerase f (pol-f) (Wang 1991;Hübscher et al 2002;Burgers 2009;Takemura 2011). The 'duplication hypothesis' (Edgell et al 1998) has been considered as a major hypothesis to explain the evolution of eukaryotic DNA polymerases, where pol-a and pol-d are assumed to have arisen from an ancestral pol-e-like DNA polymerase.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Eukaryotic DNA Polymerases via Interaction Between Cells and Large DNA Viruses

2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

B-family DNA-directed DNA polymerases are DNA replication enzymes found in Eukaryota, Archaea, large DNA viruses, and in some, but not all, bacteria. Several polymerase domains are conserved among the B-family DNA polymerases from these organisms, suggesting that the B-family DNA polymerases evolved from a common ancestor. Eukaryotes retain at least three replicative B-family DNA polymerases, DNA polymerase α, δ, and ε, and one translesion B-family DNA polymerase, DNA polymerase ζ. Here, we present molecular evolutionary evidence that suggests DNA polymerase genes evolved through horizontal gene transfer between the viral and archaeal-eukaryotic lineages. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the B-family DNA polymerases from nucleo-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs), eukaryotes, and archaea suggest that different NCLDV lineages such as Poxviridae and Mimiviridae were involved in the evolution of different DNA polymerases (pol-α-, δ-, ε-, and ζ-like genes) in archaeal-eukaryotic cell lineages, putatively through horizontal gene transfer. These results support existing theories that link the evolution of NCLDVs and the origin of the eukaryotic nucleus.

show abstract