The influence of a double-stranded hindrance on DNA synthesis performed by DNA polymerase α, T 4 DNA polymerase, DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) and AMV reverse transcriptase

Abstract

The influence of a double-stranded region on DNA synthesis performed by a series of DNA polymerases on a single-stranded template was studied. Two types of double-stranded hindrances were employed: a stable hairpin formed by the template alone and a region formed by the template and an extraneous oligonucleotide complementary to the template. While T 4 and calf thymus α DNA polymerases are strongly arrested at the beginning of either of the two double-stranded hindrances, the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I and avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase can pass through the double-stranded regions. The DNA chain-elongation rate seems to be undisturbed in the case of reverse transcriptase but greatly reduced for DNA polymerase I.