DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex: Structure and functions

The review analyzes the present-day concepts of the structure and function of DNA polymerase alpha complex with DNA primase, a key component of the eu karyotic replication system. The DNA primase function is synthesis of RNA p rimers for new DNA strands. The DNA polymerase alpha key function is elonga tion of RNA primers, whereas other known DNA polymerases cannot do that. Th us, DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase is a unique complex in which RNA synth esis is switched over to DNA synthesis, thus enabling initiation of DNA rep lication on a single-stranded DNA template. Problems of template recognitio n by DNA primase and DNA polymerase alpha, initiation of the new DNA strand synthesis on RNA primers, RNA synthesis proper by DNA primase, as well as the processivity and precision of DNA synthesis by both enzymes are conside red in the review.