Form Of DNA Polymerase Alpha Research Articles

Characterization of the HeLa Cell DNA Polymerase .alpha.-Associated Ap4A Binding Protein by Photoaffinity Labeling

The ubiquitous dinucleotide diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been proposed to be involved in DNA replication and cell proliferation, DNA repair, platelet aggregation, and vascular tonus. A protein binding to Ap4A is associated with a multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha 2) in HeLa cells. We have purified the pol alpha-associated Ap4A binding protein to homogeneity. The Ap4A binding protein is resolved into two polypeptides of 45 and 22 kDa, designated as A1 and A2, respectively. We have utilized [alpha-32P]8-N3-Ap4A to label the purified binding protein, and by cross-linking the photoaffinity label we have determined that Ap4A binds to the A1 subunit. No binding to the ligand is observed with the A2 subunit. Photoaffinity labeling is saturated with approximately 0.4 microM photolabel, with a half-maximal binding at 0.15 microM. The labeling is UV-dependent and is competed by both 8-N3-Ap4A and Ap4A. Photoaffinity labeling is not affected in the presence of dATP and dGTP and is reduced only in the presence of excess of ATP indicating the specificity of the protein for Ap4A. Of the diadenosine polyphosphates, Ap4A and Ap5A competed for binding, while Ap2A and Ap3A did not compete for binding. Further, the presence of at least one adenosine may be necessary since Ap4G competes but Gp4G does not compete for binding to the protein. Various methylene bisphosphonate and thiophosphate analogs of Ap4A were tested to see their effect on photoaffinity labeling with 8-N3-Ap4A. Significant differences were observed among the various analogs in their ability to prevent the photoaffinity labeling of the ligand to the binding protein.

Catalytic properties of DNA polymerase α activity associated with the heat‐stabilized nuclear matrix prepared from HeLa S3 cells

We have investigated whether or not ATP or other nucleoside di- and trisphosphates (including some nonhydrolysable ATP analogues) can stimulate the activity and/or the processivity of DNA polymerase alpha associated with the nuclear matrix obtained from HeLa S3 cell nuclei that had been stabilized at 37 degrees C prior to subfractionation, as has been reported previously for DNA polymerase alpha bound to the nuclear matrix prepared from 22-h regenerating rat liver. We have found that HeLa cell matrix-associated DNA polymerase alpha activity could not be stimulated at all by ATP or other nucleotides, a behaviour which was shared also by DNA polymerase alpha activity that solubilizes from cells during the isolation of nuclei and that is thought to be a form of the enzyme not actively engaged in DNA replication. Moreover, the processivity of matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha activity was low (< 10 nucleotides). These results were obtained with the matrix prepared with either 2 M NaCl or 0.25 M (NH4)2SO4 and led us to consider that a 37 degree incubation of isolated nuclei renders resistant to high-salt extraction a form of DNA polymerase alpha which is unlikely to be involved in DNA replication in vivo.

Diadenosine tetraphosphate binding protein from human HeLa cells: purification and characterization

The ubiquitous dinucleotide P1,P4-di(adenosine-5') tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been proposed to be involved in DNA replication and cell proliferation, DNA repair, platelet aggregation, and vascular tonus. A protein binding specifically to Ap4A is associated with a multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha 2) in HeLa cells. The Ap4A binding protein from HeLa cells has been purified to homogeneity starting from pol alpha 2 complex. The Ap4A binding protein is hydrophobic and is resolved from the pol alpha 2 complex by hydrophobic interaction chromatography on butyl-Sepharose and subsequently purified to homogeneity by chromatography on Mono-Q and Superose-12 FPLC columns. The Ap4A binding activity elutes as a single symmetrical peak upon gel filtration with a molecular mass of 200 kDa. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions, the purified protein migrates as a single protein of 200 kDa. Upon electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, the binding activity is resolved into two polypeptides of 45 and 22 kDa, designated as A1 and A2, respectively. A1 and A2 can be cross-linked using the homobifunctional cross-linking agent disuccinimidyl suberate. The cross-linked protein migrates as a single protein of 210 kDa on polyacrylamide gels under denaturing conditions, suggesting that these two polypeptides are subunits of a single protein. The purified protein binds Ap4A efficiently, and by Scatchard analysis, we have determined a dissociation constant of 0.25 microM, indicating high affinity of Ap4A binding protein to its ligand. ATP is not required for the binding activity. The nonionic detergent Triton X-100 is necessary for stabilizing the purified protein. Amino acid composition analysis indicates that A1 and A2 are distinct.

A novel primase-free form of murine DNA polymerase .alpha. induced by infection with minute virus of mice

Two species of DNA polymerase alpha free of primase activity were identified in extracts of Ehrlich mouse cells that had been infected with minute virus of mice. Primase-free forms of DNA polymerase alpha eluted with 150 and 180 mM NaCl during ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose columns, exhibited sedimentation coefficients of 11 S and 8.2 S, respectively, and were inhibited by aphidicolin, N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-9-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)guanine 5'-triphosphate, and 2-(p-n-butylanilino)-9-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)adenine 5'-triphosphate. The ratio of primase-free DNA polymerase alpha to the DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex increased from 1.5 to greater than 100 during the course of infection, and free primase was produced during the MVM replicative cycle.

Interaction of phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate with a low activity form of dna polymerase alpha: a potential mechanism for enzyme activation

1. 1. DNA polymerase alpha isolated from Norman murine myxosarcoma exhibited two isozyme forms, one with low specific activity and low DNA binding affinity (a 1), and one with high specific activity and high DNA binding affinity (A 2). 2. 2. DNA polymerase alpha a 1, but not A 2, showed a significant increase in specific activity after treatment with phosphatidylinositol, ATP and phosphatidylinositol kinase, or with phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate. 3. 3. Treatment of DNA polymerase alpha a 1 with the phospholipase C hydrolysis product of phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate, inositol-1,4-bisphosphate, was sufficient to effect the transient increase in activity of polymerase a 1 to a form not chromatographically distinguishable from isozyme form A 2

Activation of a low specific activity form of DNA polymerase α by inositol-1,4-bisphosphate

A low activity form of DNA polymerase alpha immunoaffinity-purified from adult-derived human fibroblasts was activated by interaction with phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate, while a high activity form of the enzyme did not interact with phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate or its derivatives. Phosphatidylinositol-4-monophosphate was apparently hydrolyzed in the presence of a highly purified low activity form of DNA polymerase alpha, effecting the release of diacylglycerol and the retention of inositol-1,4-bisphosphate by the enzyme complex. The resulting inositol-1,4-bisphosphate/protein complex exhibited increased affinity of binding to DNA template/primer and increased deoxynucleotidyltransferase activity. These data indicate that inositol-1,4-bisphosphate may function as an effector molecule in the activation of a low activity form of human DNA polymerase alpha and suggest that it may function as a second messenger during the initiation of mitosis in stimulated cells.

Binding of the DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex to the nuclear matrix in HeLa cells.

It is well-known that there are multiple forms of DNA polymerase alpha. In order to determine which form(s) is (are) tightly bound, the activities were dissociated from DNA-poor nuclear matrices, with octyl beta-D-glucoside. Sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis revealed three bands with s values of 7.5, 10.5, and 13. The 7.5S form was free of DNA primase and represented only 10% of the total DNA polymerase alpha bound to the nuclear matrix. The 13S and the 10.5S forms each contained DNA primase activity. The 10.5S form comprised 85% of the DNA polymerase alpha activity and 95% of the DNA primase activity, dissociated from the nuclear matrix. Neither temperature of nuclease digestion nor various salt treatments of nuclei had significant effects on the proportions of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA primase activities bound to, or subsequently dissociated from, nuclear matrices. In a comparison of primase activity bound to the nuclear matrix, dissociated from the nuclear matrix, and in the soluble fraction, it was found that the bound activity had a lower ATP dependence, had less KCl inhibition, and was less sensitive to heat, compared to the dissociated and soluble activities. No differences in Mg2+ or pH dependence were noted. The amounts of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA primase activities bound to the nuclear matrix varied over the cell cycle of synchronized cells. Over the S phase, there were two peaks of matrix-bound DNA primase and two peaks of subsequently dissociated DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mammalian DNA polymerase alpha: a replication competent holoenzyme form from calf thymus.

A complex "replication competent" holoenzyme form of DNA polymerase alpha (RC-alpha) was purified 10,000 fold from calf thymus through the use of an assay employing primed single stranded circular DNA template. The RC-alpha form could partially replicate a double-stranded oligo(dT)-tailed linear DNA and could completely convert primed single-stranded circular DNA to its double stranded form. The RC-alpha was resolved by denaturing gel electrophoresis into at least 10 discrete polypeptide species ranging in apparent molecular mass from 200 to 47 kilodaltons; three of the bands (apparent Mr of 200, 118 and 63 kilodaltons) displayed DNA polymerase activity in denaturing gel activity assay. The isolation of RC-alpha required the use of absolutely fresh calf thymus, the inclusion of ATP and protease inhibitors throughout the purification procedure. Treatment of the RC-alpha with the neutralizing anti-DNA polymerase alpha monoclonal antibody SJK 132-20 (Tanaka et al. (1982), J. Biol. Chem. 257, 8386-8390) in nondenaturing conditions selected the complete set of 10 polypeptides, whereas treatment in denaturing conditions selected the 200 kilodalton catalytic DNA polymerase active polypeptide. The properties and the behaviour of the RC-alpha preparation following removal of specific polypeptides strongly suggested that the capacity of RC-alpha to extend and replicate long template requires the function of nonproteolysed form of the 200 kilodaltons catalytic DNA polymerase core and at least 6 other auxiliary polypeptides of, respectively, 98, 87, 63, 54, 49 and 47 kilodaltons.

A multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha from HeLa cells. Resolution of its associated catalytic activities.

The majority of the DNA polymerase alpha activity in HeLa cells has been isolated and purified as a multiprotein Mr 640,000 form. The multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha corresponds to DNA polymerase alpha 2 that was previously reported by us (Lamothe, P., Baril, B., Chi, A., Lee, L., and Baril, E. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 78, 4723-4727). The highly purified DNA polymerase alpha 2 has in addition to DNA polymerase alpha-associated DNase, primase, and diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A)binding activities and accessory primer recognition proteins C1 and C2. The DNA polymerase alpha and associated activities increase coordinately during the G1/S-phase transition of the cell cycle. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the electrophoretically homogeneous DNA polymerase alpha shows that it is composed of at least eight polypeptides in the molecular weight range of 180,000-15,000. Hydrophobic chromatography on butyl-agarose resolves the DNase and Ap4A-binding protein from a complex of DNA polymerase alpha, primase, and the primer recognition proteins C1 and C2. Hydrophobic chromatography of the latter complex on phenyl-Sepharose resolves the C1 protein from a DNA polymerase alpha-C2 protein-primase complex. Phosphocellulose chromatography of the DNA polymerase-primase-C2 protein complex resolves the C2 protein from a complex of DNA polymerase alpha-primase.

Selection of template initiation sites and the lengths of RNA primers synthesized by DNA primase are strongly affected by its organization in a multiprotein DNA polymerase alpha complex

Synthesis of (p)ppRNA-DNA chains by purified HeLa cell DNA primase-DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha-primase) was compared with those synthesized by a multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha 2) using unique single-stranded DNA templates containing the origin of replication for simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA. The nucleotide locations of 33 initiation sites were identified by mapping G*pppN-RNA-DNA chains and identifying their 5'-terminal ribonucleotide. Pol alpha 2 strongly preferred initiation sites that began with ATP rather than GTP, thus frequently preferring different initiation sites than pol alpha-primase, depending on the template examined. The initiation sites selected in vitro, however, did not correspond to the sites used during SV40 DNA replication in vivo. Pol alpha 2 had the greatest effect on RNA primer size, typically synthesizing primers 1-5 nucleotides long, while pol alpha-primase synthesized primers 6-8 nucleotides long. These differences were observed even at individual initiation sites. Thus, the multiprotein form of DNA primase-DNA polymerase alpha affects selection of initiation sites, the frequency at which the sites are chosen, and length of RNA primers.

Evidence of the existence of a high molecular weight form of DNA polymerase alpha in sea urchin eggs.

DNA polymerase alpha combined with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was isolated from unfertilized sea urchin eggs. NaCl treatment of this fraction released DNA polymerase alpha from the ER. The molecular size (the S value) of the ER-free DNA polymerase alpha changed with the concentration of NaCl used; being 23 S, 11-15 S and 6-8 S in the presence of 0.05-0.12 M, 0.12-0.24 M and more than 0.24 M NaCl. DNA polymerase alpha activity decreased concomitantly with the reduction in molecular size. The 6-8 S form of DNA polymerase alpha did not aggregate by itself nor with other cellular components nonspecifically, when the 23 S form was present. These results are evidence of the presence of 6-8 S DNA polymerase alpha as a high molecular weight form (23 S-form) in sea urchin eggs.

5',5'''-P1, P4 diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A): a putative initiator of DNA replication.

The proposal that Ap4A acts as an inducer of DNA replication is based primarily on two pieces of evidence (7). The intracellular levels of Ap4A increase ten- to 1000-fold as cells progress into S phase and the introduction of Ap4A into nonproliferating cells stimulated DNA synthesis. There is also some additional suggestive evidence such as the binding of Ap4A to a protein that is associated with multiprotein forms of the replicative DNA polymerase alpha and the ability of this enzyme to use Ap4A as a primer for DNA synthesis in vitro with single-stranded DNA templates. These observations have stimulated interest in the cellular metabolism of Ap4A. This is well since there is a great need for additional experimentation in order to clearly establish Ap4A as an inducer of DNA replication. Microinjection experiments of Ap4A into quiescent cells are needed in order to ascertain if Ap4A will stimulate DNA replication and possibly cell division in intact cells. Studies of the effects of nonhydrolyzable analogs of Ap4A on DNA replication in intact quiescent cells could also prove valuable. Although Ap4A can function as a primer for in vitro DNA synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha this may not be relevant in regard to its in vivo role in DNA replication. Ap4A in vivo could interact with key protein(s) in DNA replication and in this way act as an effector molecule in the initiation of DNA replication. In this regard the interaction of Ap4A with a protein associated with a multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha isolated from S-phase cells is of interest. More experiments are required to determine if there is a specific target protein(s) for Ap4A in vivo and what its role in DNA replication is. The cofractionation of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase with the replicative DNA polymerase alpha from animal and plant cells is of interest. The DNA polymerase alpha from synchronized animal cells also interacted with Ap4A. Although the plant cell alpha-like DNA polymerase did not interact with Ap4A this DNA polymerase was not a multiprotein form of polymerase alpha and the synchrony of the wheat germ embryos was not known. A possible tie between protein-synthesizing systems and the regulation of proteins involved in DNA replication may exist. The requirement of protein synthesis for the initiation of DNA replication has long been known. Also, it is well established that many temperature-sensitive mutants for tRNA synthetases are also DNA-synthesizing mutants. More investigation in this area may be warranted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Mammalian DNA polymerase alpha holoenzymes with possible functions at the leading and lagging strand of the replication fork.

At an early purification stage, DNA polymerase alpha holoenzyme from calf thymus can be separated into four different forms by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. All four enzyme forms (termed A, B, C, and D) are capable of replicating long single-stranded DNA templates, such as parvoviral DNA or primed M13 DNA. Peak A possesses, in addition to the DNA polymerase alpha, a double-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase, as well as DNA topoisomerase type II, 3'-5' exonuclease, and RNase H activity. Peaks B, C, and D all contain, together with DNA polymerase alpha, activities of primase and DNA topoisomerase type II. Furthermore, peak B is enriched in an RNase H, and peaks C and D are enriched in a 3'-5' exonuclease. DNA methylase (DNA methyltransferase) was preferentially identified in peaks C and D. Velocity sedimentation analyses of the four peaks gave evidence of unexpectedly large forms of DNA polymerase alpha (greater than 11.3 s), indicating that copurification of the above putative replication enzymes is not fortuitous. With moderate and high concentrations of salt, enzyme activities cosedimented with DNA polymerase alpha. Peak C is more resistant to inhibition by salt and spermidine than the other three enzyme forms. These results suggest the existence of a leading strand replicase (peak A) and several lagging strand replicase forms (peaks B, C, and D). Finally, the salt-resistant C form might represent a functional DNA polymerase alpha holoenzyme, possibly fitting in a higher-order structure, such as the replisome or even the chromatin.

Novel form of DNA polymerase alpha associated with DNA primase activity of vertebrates. Detection with mouse stimulating factor.

With a specific stimulating factor of mouse DNA replicase for its detection, a novel form of DNA polymerase alpha (DNA replicase) associated with DNA primase activity was partially purified from several vertebrates, i.e. the cherry salmon Oncorhyncus masou, the frog Xenopus laevis, the chick, and human (HeLa cells). Activity similar to DNA replicase was also partially purified from embryos of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispina. In all vertebrates examined, two forms of DNA polymerase alpha were separated by chromatography on ion-exchange columns; one form (DNA replicase) was associated with DNA primase activity and could utilize unprimed single-stranded DNAs as template, and the other could not utilize unprimed single-stranded DNAs. The sedimentation coefficient of the former, the novel form, obtained from each vertebrate in a glycerol gradient at high ionic strength was slightly larger than that of the other form which had no primase activity, except in the case of chick embryos where the sedimentation coefficients of the two forms were almost the same. The initiator RNA synthesized with the DNA primase activity associated with DNA replicase obtained from salmon, chick, HeLa cells, and sea urchin was 8 to 10 nucleotides long. The stimulating factor obtained from Ehrlich ascites cells has been found to stimulate both the activities of DNA primase and DNA polymerase in DNA replicase obtained from all the vertebrates examined, when unprimed single-stranded DNA was used as template, while the factor failed to stimulate both the activities of the enzyme of sea urchin embryos. This factor thus should be an effective tool in studies on the mechanism of vertebrate DNA replication.

Resolution of the diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate binding subunit from a multiprotein form of HeLa cell DNA polymerase alpha.

A diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) binding subunit has been resolved from a high molecular weight (640,000) multiprotein form of DNA polymerase alpha [deoxynucleoside triphosphate:DNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.7] from HeLa cells [DNA polymerase alpha 2 of Lamothe, P., Baril, B., Chi, A., Lee, L. & Baril, E. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 4723-4727]. The Ap4A binding activity copurifies with the DNA polymerizing activity during the course of purification. Hydrophobic chromatography on butylagarose resolves the Ap4A binding activity from the DNA polymerase. The Ap4A binding activity is protein in nature since the binding of Ap4A is abolished by treatment of the isolated binding activity with proteinase K but is insensitive to treatment with DNase or RNase. The molecular weight of the Ap4A binding protein, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions or by NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after photoaffinity labeling of the protein with [32P]Ap4A is 92,000 or 47,000. The binding activity of this protein is highly specific for Ap4A.

Purification and characterization of two forms of DNA polymerase alpha from HeLa cell nuclei.

Isolated nuclei contained two active forms of DNA polymerase alpha (form I and form II). Form II was extracted from nuclei by KCl at concentrations lower than 0.18 M. Above 0.18 M selective extraction of form I was observed. The purified two active forms differed in chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviors, in their salt requirement for optimal activity, and in preference of template-primers, although both forms exhibited properties characteristic of DNA polymerase alpha such as sensitivity of N-ethylmaleimide, 1-beta-D-arabino-furanosylcytosine triphosphate, and aphidicolin. Marked difference between the two forms was preference of template-primer that form I was more active with poly(dT).(rA)10 than poly(dA).(dT)12 whereas form II exhibited higher activity with poly(dA).(dT)12 than poly(dT).(rA)10. Possible roles of two forms of DNA polymerase alpha in the processes of DNA replication will be discussed.

DNA primase activity associated with DNA polymerase alpha from Xenopus laevis ovaries.

One of the two forms of DNA polymerase alpha from ovaries of the frog Xenopus laevis catalyzed ribonucleoside triphosphate-dependent DNA synthesis on single-stranded circular fd phage DNA templates. DNA synthesis was dependent on ATP and added template. CTP, GTP, and UTP stimulated DNA synthesis but were not required and could not substitute for ATP. DNA synthesis was not inhibited by alpha-amanitin. Neither poly(dT) nor double-stranded DNA served as template. Analysis of [32P]-dTMP-labeled product by neutral and alkaline agarose gel electrophoresis showed that 0.1- to 1-kilobase DNA fragments (average size of approximately equal to 0.25 kilobase) were synthesized. The fragments were not covalently linked to the template. Either [alpha-32P]NMP, [gamma-32P]ATP, or [gamma-32P]GTP were incorporated also into the product. Analysis of the product after hydrolysis by KOH, alkaline phosphatase, or bacteriophage T4 3' leads to 5' exonuclease showed the presence of a small oligoribonucleotide primer at the 5' end of the newly synthesized DNA. NTP-dependent DNA-synthesizing activity copurified on six columns and cosedimented during glycerol gradient centrifugation with one form of DNA polymerase alpha activity but not with the other form. These results suggest that DNA primase activity is associated with one of the two forms of X. laevis DNA polymerase alpha.

Association of diadenosine 5‘,5“‘-P1,P4-tetraphosphate binding protein with HeLa cell DNA polymerase alpha.

An electrophoretically homogeneous high molecular weight form (640,000) of HeLa cell DNA polymerase alpha was shown to catalyze DNA synthesis with a variety of di- and oligoriboadenylates and oligodeoxyriboadenylates as primers with poly(dT) as template. Diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,p4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) can be utilized as a primer with poly(dT) as template and was found to be covalently attached to the 5'-end of the poly(dA) product. An Ap4A binding protein is tightly associated with the high molecular weight form of DNA polymerase alpha. This protein which exhibits high affinity, noncovalent binding of Ap4A is resolved from the multiprotein DNA polymerase alpha complex, along with other accessory proteins, by hydrophobic affinity chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose columns.

Accessory proteins for DNA polymerase alpha activity with single-strand DNA templates.

Three forms of DNA polymerase alpha [DNA nucleotidyltransferase (DNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.7] were partially purified from the combined nuclear extract and postmicrosomal supernatant solution of synchronized HeLa cells. These enzymes, designated DNA polymerases alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3, on the basis of their order of elution from DEAE-Bio-Gel, differ in their abilities to utilize single-strand DNA templates. DNA polymerase alpha 2 has equal catalytic activities with activated and single-strand DNAs as template-primers. DNA polymerase alpha 1 has only partial catalytic activity with single-strand DNA templates, and DNA polymerase alpha 3 is essentially inactive with this template. Successive steps of hydrophobic affinity chromatography and phosphocellulose chromatography of DNA polymerase alpha 2 resolved the polymerase alpha activity and two protein factors (C1 and C2) that are required for its catalytic activity with a DNA template-primer that contains extended single-strand regions. In the absence of the factors, DNA polymerase alpha activity is measurable with activated but not single-strand DNA templates. In the presence of the C1 and C2 factors DNA polymerase alpha activity with single-strand DNA templates is restored to about 75% of the catalytic activity of DNA polymerase alpha 2 with this template.

Differential inhibition of multiple forms of DNA polymerase alpha from IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells.

Three forms of DNA polymerase (pol) alpha from human neuroblastoma IMR-32 were separated by DEAE column chromatography. All sedimented at approximately 7 S in 5-20% continuous sucrose density gradients. All were heat labile, with pol alpha 2 the most (90% inactivated) and pol alpha 3 the least (50% inactivated) sensitive to heating for 5 min at 50 degrees C. pol alpha 1 and alpha 2 efficiently utilized activated calf thymus DNA as template. The most active form, pol alpha 2, used both poly(dA).(dT)12-18 and poly(dT).(dA)12-18 as template at equal rates. Differential inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha activities was examined in the presence of ricin, hemin, and a nonhistone chromatin protein. All three polymerases were inhibited by both ricin (nonreduced) and hemin, with pol alpha 2 the most (80-90%) and pol alpha 3 the least (60%) sensitive in each case. In contrast, only pol alpha 2 and alpha 3 activities were inhibited (80-85%) by rat liver nonhistone chromatin protein.