How a low-fidelity DNA polymerase chooses non-Watson-Crick from Watson-Crick incorporation.
Wu, W.J., Su, M.I., Wu, J.L., Kumar, S., Lim, L.H., Wang, C.W., Nelissen, F.H., Chen, M.C., Doreleijers, J.F., Wijmenga, S.S., Tsai, M.D.(2014) J Am Chem Soc 136: 4927-4937
- PubMed: 24617852 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ja4102375
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2M2T, 2M2U, 2M2V, 2M2W - PubMed Abstract: 
A dogma for DNA polymerase catalysis is that the enzyme binds DNA first, followed by MgdNTP. This mechanism contributes to the selection of correct dNTP by Watson-Crick base pairing, but it cannot explain how low-fidelity DNA polymerases overcome Watson-Crick base pairing to catalyze non-Watson-Crick dNTP incorporation. DNA polymerase X from the deadly African swine fever virus (Pol X) is a half-sized repair polymerase that catalyzes efficient dG:dGTP incorporation in addition to correct repair. Here we report the use of solution structures of Pol X in the free, binary (Pol X:MgdGTP), and ternary (Pol X:DNA:MgdGTP with dG:dGTP non-Watson-Crick pairing) forms, along with functional analyses, to show that Pol X uses multiple unprecedented strategies to achieve the mutagenic dG:dGTP incorporation. Unlike high fidelity polymerases, Pol X can prebind purine MgdNTP tightly and undergo a specific conformational change in the absence of DNA. The prebound MgdGTP assumes an unusual syn conformation stabilized by partial ring stacking with His115. Upon binding of a gapped DNA, also with a unique mechanism involving primarily helix αE, the prebound syn-dGTP forms a Hoogsteen base pair with the template anti-dG. Interestingly, while Pol X prebinds MgdCTP weakly, the correct dG:dCTP ternary complex is readily formed in the presence of DNA. H115A mutation disrupted MgdGTP binding and dG:dGTP ternary complex formation but not dG:dCTP ternary complex formation. The results demonstrate the first solution structural view of DNA polymerase catalysis, a unique DNA binding mode, and a novel mechanism for non-Watson-Crick incorporation by a low-fidelity DNA polymerase.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute of Biological Chemistry, and ‡Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica , 128 Academia Road Sec. 2, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.