A NON-ALPHA-LIKE DNA-POLYMERASE FROM THE HYPERTHERMOPHILIC ARCHAEON PYROCOCCUS-FURIOSUS

We identified a DNA polymerase with properties that differed from thos e of a-like DNA polymerase (Pol T), in Pyrococcus furiosus, a hyperthe rmophilic archaeon, The novel DNA polymerase (Pol II) was partially pu rified and characterized. The DNA polymerizing activity of Pol II was relatively sensitive to dideoxythymidine-triphosphate (ddTTP) and it w as inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, but not by aphidicolin. Activity sta ining gel electrophoresis showed that the DNA polymerizing activity wa s derived from a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 130000 on sodi um dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The DNA e longation ability of Pol II using a natural DNA template was much lowe r than that of Pol I from this organism and DNA synthesis of Pol II se ems to be non-processive.