Structural Basis for Chemoresistance to Cisplatin Mediated by DNA Polymerase eta
Zhao, Y., Biertumpfel, C., Gregory, M.T., Hua, Y.J., Hanaoka, F., Yang, W.(2012) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109: 7269-7274
- PubMed: 22529383 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1202681109
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4DL2, 4DL3, 4DL4, 4DL5, 4DL6, 4DL7 - PubMed Abstract: 
Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) and related compounds cause DNA damage and are widely used as anticancer agents. Chemoresistance to cisplatin treatment is due in part to translesion synthesis by human DNA polymerase η (hPol η). Here, we report crystal structures of hPol η complexed with intrastrand cisplatin-1,2-cross-linked DNA, representing four consecutive steps in translesion synthesis. In contrast to the generally enlarged and nondiscriminating active site of Y-family polymerases like Dpo4, Pol η is specialized for efficient bypass of UV-cross-linked pyrimidine dimers. Human Pol η differs from the yeast homolog in its binding of DNA template. To incorporate deoxycytidine opposite cisplatin-cross-linked guanines, hPol η undergoes a specific backbone rearrangement to accommodate the larger base dimer and minimizes the DNA distortion around the lesion. Our structural analyses show why Pol η is inefficient at extending primers after cisplatin lesions, which necessitates a second translesion DNA polymerase to complete bypass in vivo. A hydrophobic pocket near the primer-binding site in human Pol η is identified as a potential drug target for inhibiting translesion synthesis and, thereby, reducing chemoresistance.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute of Nuclear-Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.