Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-1995

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

DNA polymerase was purified from soybean (Glycine max) chloroplasts that were actively replicating DNA. The main form (form I) of the enzyme was associated with a low level of 3' to 5' exonuclease activity throughout purification, although the ratio of exonuclease to polymerase activity decreased with each successive purification step. A second form (form II) of DNA polymerase, which elutes from DEAE-cellulose at a higher salt concentration than form I, was devoid of any exonuclease activity. To assess the potential function of the 3' to 5' exonuclease in proofreading, the fidelity of deoxynucleotide incorporation was measured for form I DNA polymerase throughout purification. Despite the steadily decreasing ratio of 3' to 5' exonuclease to polymerase activity, the extent of misincorporation by form I enzyme remained unchanged during the final purification steps, suggesting that the exonuclease did not contribute to the accuracy of DNA synthesis by this polymerase. Fidelity of form I DNA polymerase, when compared with that of form II, revealed a higher level of misincorporation for form I enzyme, a finding that is consistent with the exonuclease playing little or no role in exonucleolytic proofreading.

Comments

© American Society of Plant Biologists

Publication Title

Plant Physiology

Volume

107

Issue

4

First Page

1277

Last Page

1284

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