THE DNA-POLYMERASE ALPHA-PRIMASE COMPLEX COUPLES DNA-REPLICATION, CELL-CYCLE PROGRESSION AND DNA-DAMAGE RESPONSE

The highly conserved DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex (pol-prim) i s the only eukaryotic DNA polymerase that can initiate DNA synthesis d e novo. It is required both for the initiation of DNA replication at c hromosomal origins and for the discontinuous synthesis of Okazaki frag ments on the lagging strand of the replication fork. The dual role of pol-prim makes it a likely target for mechanisms that control cell-cyc le S-phase entry and progression.