S. Korolev, M. Nayal, W. Barnes, E. Di Cera, and G. Waksman.
Crystal structure of the large
fragment of Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase I at 2.5-A resolution: Structural basis for
thermostability.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92:9264-9268. (1995)
The crystal structure of the large fragment of the Thermus aquaticus
DNA polymerase (Klentaq1), determined at 2.5-A resolution, demonstrates a
compact two-domain architecture. The C-terminal domain is identical in fold to
the equivalent region of the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA
polymerase (Klenow pol I). Although the N-terminal domain of Klentaq1 differs
greatly in sequence from its counterpart in Klenow pol I, it has clearly
evolved from a common ancestor. The structure of Klentaq1 reveals the
strategy utilized by this protein to maintain structural activity at high
temperatures and provides the structural basis for future improvements of
the enzyme.
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