Eukaryotic DNA Polymerases

• Contrary to few DNA polymerases in prokaryotes(Pol I,

Pol II, Pol III, Pol IV etc.), eukaryotes have large number
of DNA polymerases, 17 DNA polymerases in animal
cells.
• Eukaryotic cells contain FOUR nuclear DNA
polymerases, i.e. α, β, δ and ε; and a fifth DNA
polymerase called r -gamma which is responsible for
organelle genome replication.

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 Important DNA polymerases of Eukaryotes
Properties Nuclear DNA polymerases Organellar
DNA
polymerase

α β δ ε Gamma r
5’-3’ exo No No No No No
3’-5’ exo No No Yes Yes Yes

No. of subunits 4 1 2-3 At least 2

1
Associate with Yes …. No No …
Primase
Processivity Moderate …… High High ….
Require PCNA No Yes Yes …..
Function Priming DNA Main Control mt DNA
Essential for repair replicase function replication
replication But not
catalytic
function
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 Pol α/primase-Initiation of DNA replication

• 3’-5’ exo……… ………………..No

• Associate with primase……….Yes
• Processivity……………………moderate
• PCNA………………………….No

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DNA polymerase α is important in intiation of DNA
replication in eukaryotes. Pol α/primase primes the leading
strand and beginning of every okazaki fragment.
Pol α + Primase Po α is tightly associated with
primase
Pol α/primase complex synthesizes a primer approximately 10
ribonucleotides long, and then it switches from primase activity to
DNA polymerase activity, and elongates the primer with
approximateky 15-30 deoxyribonucleotides.The product of the
dual reaction is a short strech of DNA covalently attached to RNA
primer 21-4
 Pol α + Primase-Initiation of DNA
replication
• The short strech of RNA-DNA hybrid is then
used by Pol δ or Pol ε for processive elongation
of the leading and lagging strand.

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 Pol δ
Rfc (replication factor C) aid loding of Pol
δ and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear
antigen). They form Pol δ-Rfc-PCNA
complex
PCNA-processivity of DNA polymerase δ

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 DNA Polymerase δ

Properties
3’-5’ exo…………………Yes
Associate with Primase….No
Processivity……………..High
PCNA…………………….Yes

Both DNA polymerases (a and d) are involved in chromosome

replication. DNA polymerase α is responsible for initiation of new
strands. It is in tight association with primase .

 Replication factor C (RFC), then binds to the iDNA (initiator DNA) and
loads DNA polymerase δ plus its sliding clamp (PCNA protein) onto the
DNA.

PCNA- The sliding clamp of animal cells, a trimer (not a dimer as in

bacteria) that forms a ring surrounding the DNA. It important for
processivity of DNA
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Summary: DNA
Replication in
Eukaryotes

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