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Domain

The loop 2 region is involved in the binding of the 2 ends of resected double-strand breaks and homomultimerization.

Function

Low-fidelity DNA polymerase with a helicase activity that promotes microhomology-mediated end-joining (MMEJ), an alternative non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) machinery required to repair double-strand breaks in DNA during mitosis (PubMed:14576298, PubMed:18503084, PubMed:24648516, PubMed:25642963, PubMed:25643323, PubMed:25775267, PubMed:26636256, PubMed:27311885, PubMed:27591252, PubMed:30655289, PubMed:31562312, PubMed:32873648, PubMed:34140467, PubMed:34179826, PubMed:36455556, PubMed:37440612, PubMed:37674080). MMEJ is an error-prone repair pathway that produces deletions of sequences from the strand being repaired and promotes genomic rearrangements, such as telomere fusions, some of them leading to cellular transformation (PubMed:25642963, PubMed:25643323, PubMed:25775267, PubMed:27311885, PubMed:27591252, PubMed:31562312, PubMed:32873648). MMEJ is required during mitosis to repair persistent double-strand breaks that originate in S-phase (PubMed:37440612, PubMed:37674080). Although error-prone, MMEJ protects against chromosomal instability and tumorigenesis (By similarity). The polymerase acts by binding directly the 2 ends of resected double-strand breaks, allowing microhomologous sequences in the overhangs to form base pairs (PubMed:25643323, PubMed:25775267, PubMed:27311885, PubMed:27591252). It then extends each strand from the base-paired region using the opposing overhang as a template (PubMed:25643323, PubMed:25775267, PubMed:27311885, PubMed:27591252). Requires partially resected DNA containing 2 to 6 base pairs of microhomology to perform MMEJ (PubMed:25643323, PubMed:25775267, PubMed:27311885, PubMed:27591252). The polymerase lacks proofreading activity and is highly promiscuous: unlike most polymerases, promotes extension of ssDNA and partial ssDNA (pssDNA) substrates (PubMed:18503084, PubMed:21050863, PubMed:22135286). When the ends of a break do not contain terminal microhomology must identify embedded complementary sequences through a scanning step (PubMed:32234782). Also acts as a DNA helicase, promoting dissociation of the replication protein A complex (RPA/RP-A), composed of RPA1, RPA2 and RPA3, from resected double-strand breaks to allow their annealing and subsequent joining by MMEJ (PubMed:36455556). Removal of RPA/RP-A complex proteins prevents RAD51 accumulation at resected ends, thereby inhibiting homology-recombination repair (HR) pathway (PubMed:25642963, PubMed:28695890). Also shows RNA-directed DNA polymerase activity to mediate DNA repair in vitro; however this activity needs additional evidence in vivo (PubMed:34117057). May also have lyase activity (PubMed:19188258). Involved in somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes, a process that requires the activity of DNA polymerases to ultimately introduce mutations at both A/T and C/G base pairs (By similarity). POLQ-mediated end joining activity is involved in random integration of exogenous DNA hampers (PubMed:28695890).

Involvement in disease

Breast cancer

BC

A common malignancy originating from breast epithelial tissue. Breast neoplasms can be distinguished by their histologic pattern. Invasive ductal carcinoma is by far the most common type. Breast cancer is etiologically and genetically heterogeneous. Important genetic factors have been indicated by familial occurrence and bilateral involvement. Mutations at more than one locus can be involved in different families or even in the same case.

None

The gene represented in this entry may be involved in disease pathogenesis.

Post-translational modifications

Phosphorylated by PLK1; promoting interaction with TOPBP1 and recruitment to DNA damage sites.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the DNA polymerase type-A family.

Tissue specificity

Highly expressed in testis.

Cellular localization

  • Nucleus
  • Chromosome
  • Enriched in chromatin in response to ultaviolet (UV) light (PubMed:25642963, PubMed:34179826). Binds to chromatin during early G1 (PubMed:24989122). Recruited to DNA damage sites, such as double-stranded breaks (DSBs), following interaction with TOPBP1 and RHNO1 (PubMed:37440612, PubMed:37674080).

Alternative names

POLH, POLQ, DNA polymerase theta, DNA polymerase eta

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Immunology & Infectious Disease

Molecular weight

289619Da

We found 2 products in 2 categories

Primary Antibodies

Application

Reactive species

Cell Lines & Lysates

Cell type

Species or organism

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