InterPro domain: IPR030559

DNA polymerase zeta (Pol zeta) belongs to the B-family of polymerases. It is a nonessential DNA polymerase responsible for the majority of damage-induced mutagenesis in eukaryotes [ 1 ]. It is involved in double-strand breaks DNA repair [ 2 ] and has a major role in translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) , an alternative DNA damage tolerance mechanism that allows the DNA replication machinery to replicate past DNA lesions [ 3 , 4 ]. Pol zeta lacks proofreading activity and its discrimination against insertion of incorrect bases is lower than that of other B-family polymerases [ 5 ]. Discrimination against ribonucleotide incorporation is only slightly lower than in the case of the replicative DNA polymerases [ 6 ].

Originally discovered in budding yeast, genes encoding this enzyme have been found in all fully sequenced eukaryotic genomes [ 7 ]. Its role in translesion replication is probably the most widespread [ 8 ].

1. REV3, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene whose function is required for induced mutagenesis, is predicted to encode a nonessential DNA polymerase. J. Bacteriol. 171, 5659-67
2. A role for REV3 in mutagenesis during double-strand break repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 147, 1017-24
3. Eukaryotic mutagenesis and translesion replication dependent on DNA polymerase zeta and Rev1 protein. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 29, 187-91
4. Cellular functions of DNA polymerase zeta and Rev1 protein. Adv. Protein Chem. 69, 167-203
5. The fidelity of DNA synthesis by yeast DNA polymerase zeta alone and with accessory proteins. Nucleic Acids Res. 34, 4731-42
6. Ribonucleotide incorporation by yeast DNA polymerase ζ. DNA Repair (Amst.) 18, 63-7
7. Cellular roles of DNA polymerase zeta and Rev1 protein. DNA Repair (Amst.) 1, 425-35
8. Human Pol ζ purified with accessory subunits is active in translesion DNA synthesis and complements Pol η in cisplatin bypass. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 111, 2954-9