The primary role of DNA polymerases is to accurately and efficiently replicate the genome to ensure the maintenance of the genetic information and its faithful transmission through generations. This is not a simple task considering the size of the genome and its constant exposure to endogenous and environmental DNA damaging agents. Thus, a number of DNA repair pathways operate in cells to protect the integrity of the genome. In addition to their role in replication, DNA polymerases play a central role in most of these pathways. Given the multitude and the complexity of DNA transactions that depend on DNA polymerase activity, it is not surprising that cells in all organisms contain multiple highly specialized DNA polymerases, the majority of which have only recently been discovered. Five DNA polymerases are now recognized in Escherichia coli, 8 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and at least 15 in humans. While polymerases in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells have been extensively studied much less is known about their counterparts in plants. For example, the plant model organism Arabidopsis thaliana is thought to contain 12 DNA polymerases, whose functions are mostly unknown. Here we review the properties and functions of DNA polymerases focusing on yeast and mammalian cells but paying special attention to the plant enzymes and the special circumstances of replication and repair in plant cells.

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DNA聚合酶的多种功能

DNA聚合酶的主要作用是准确有效地复制基因组，以确保遗传信息的维护及其代代相传。考虑到基因组的大小及其对内源性和环境 DNA 损伤剂的持续暴露，这不是一项简单的任务。因此，许多 DNA 修复途径在细胞中起作用以保护基因组的完整性。除了它们在复制中的作用外，DNA 聚合酶在大多数这些途径中发挥着核心作用。鉴于依赖于 DNA 聚合酶活性的 DNA 交易的众多和复杂性，所有生物体中的细胞都包含多种高度特化的 DNA 聚合酶也就不足为奇了，其中大部分直到最近才被发现。现在在大肠杆菌中识别了五种 DNA 聚合酶，在酿酒酵母中有 8 个，在人类中至少有 15 个。虽然细菌、酵母和哺乳动物细胞中的聚合酶已被广泛研究，但对它们在植物中的对应物知之甚少。例如，植物模式生物拟南芥被认为含有 12 种 DNA 聚合酶，其功能大多未知。在这里，我们回顾了 DNA 聚合酶的特性和功能，重点关注酵母和哺乳动物细胞，但特别关注植物酶以及植物细胞中复制和修复的特殊情况。其功能大多未知。在这里，我们回顾了 DNA 聚合酶的特性和功能，重点关注酵母和哺乳动物细胞，但特别关注植物酶以及植物细胞中复制和修复的特殊情况。其功能大多未知。在这里，我们回顾了 DNA 聚合酶的特性和功能，重点关注酵母和哺乳动物细胞，但特别关注植物酶以及植物细胞中复制和修复的特殊情况。