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Molecular choreography of primer synthesis by the eukaryotic Pol α-primase.
- Source :
- Nature Communications; 6/21/2023, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-14, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- The eukaryotic polymerase α (Pol α) synthesizes an RNA-DNA hybrid primer of 20–30 nucleotides. Pol α is composed of Pol1, Pol12, Primase 1 (Pri1), and Pri2. Pol1 and Pri1 contain the DNA polymerase and RNA primase activities, respectively. It has been unclear how Pol α hands over an RNA primer from Pri1 to Pol1 for DNA primer extension, and how the primer length is defined. Here we report the cryo-EM analysis of yeast Pol α in the apo, primer initiation, primer elongation, RNA primer hand-off from Pri1 to Pol1, and DNA extension states, revealing a series of very large movements. We reveal a critical point at which Pol1-core moves to take over the 3'-end of the RNA from Pri1. DNA extension is limited by a spiral motion of Pol1-core. Since both Pri1 and Pol1-core are flexibly attached to a stable platform, primer growth produces stress that limits the primer length. DNA Polymerase α has separate RNA and DNA Polymerase subunits to form a hybrid RNA-DNA primer of unique length. Cryo-EM structures of each stage in primer synthesis reveal large movements among the four subunits and explain how primer length may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- RNA polymerases
DNA polymerases
DNA primers
NUCLEOTIDES
RNA
DNA
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20411723
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nature Communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 164433343
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39441-1