Structure of the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III epsilon-HOT proofreading complex

J Biol Chem. 2006 Dec 15;281(50):38466-71. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M606917200. Epub 2006 Sep 13.

Abstract

The epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III possesses 3'-exonucleolytic proofreading activity. Within the Pol III core, epsilon is tightly bound between the alpha subunit (DNA polymerase) and subunit. Here, we present the crystal structure of epsilon in complex with HOT, the bacteriophage P1-encoded homolog of , at 2.1 A resolution. The epsilon-HOT interface is defined by two areas of contact: an interaction of the previously unstructured N terminus of HOT with an edge of the epsilon central beta-sheet as well as interactions between HOT and the catalytically important helix alpha1-loop-helix alpha2 motif of epsilon. This structure provides insight into how HOT and, by implication, may stabilize the epsilon subunit, thus promoting efficient proofreading during chromosomal replication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA Polymerase III / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA Polymerase III

Associated data

  • PDB/2IDO