NYMC Faculty Publications

DOI

10.1016/j.isci.2018.07.009

Journal Title

iScience

First Page

52

Last Page

67

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2018

Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Second Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Abstract

There are significant ambiguities regarding how DNA polymerase eta is recruited to DNA lesion sites in stressed cells while avoiding normal replication forks in non-stressed cells. Even less is known about the mechanisms responsible for Pol eta-induced mutations in cancer genomes. We show that there are two safeguards to prevent Pol eta from adventitious participation in normal DNA replication. These include sequestration by a partner protein and low basal activity. Upon cellular UV irradiation, phosphorylation enables Pol eta to be released from sequestration by PDIP38 and activates its polymerase function through increased affinity toward monoubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ub-PCNA). Moreover, the high-affinity binding of phosphorylated Pol eta to Ub-PCNA limits its subsequent displacement by Pol delta. Consequently, activated Pol eta replicates DNA beyond the lesion site and potentially introduces clusters of mutations due to its low fidelity. This mechanism could account for the prevalence of Pol eta signatures in cancer genome.

Publisher's Statement

Originally published in iScience, 6, 52-67. The original material can be found here.

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