Analysis of fidelity mechanisms with eukaryotic DNA replication and repair proteins

Abstract

We are investigating the mechanisms for producing or avoiding errors during DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA replication and repair proteins purified from eukaryotic sources. Using assays that monitor the fidelity of a single round of DNA synthesis in vitro, we have defined the error frequency and mutational specificity of the four classes of animal cell DNA polymerases (α, β, δ, γ), and the fidelity of an SV40 origin-dependent DNA replication complex in extracts of HeLa cells.Key words: error frequency, repair proteins, polymerases, mutational specificity, fidelity mechanisms.