Disease relevance of Polk

• Recently several chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity studies of di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) have been reported [1].

High impact information on Polk

• The Y-family DNA polymerase kappa (pol kappa) functions in mammalian nucleotide-excision repair [2].
• DNA polymerase kappa (pol kappa) is a member of the Y-family of DNA polymerases that are thought to function in translesion synthesis (TLS) past different types of DNA damage [2].
• For example, in vitro studies revealed that human DNA polymerase kappa (Polkappa) is unable to insert a base opposite a cis-syn thymine-thymine dimer or cisplatin adduct, yet can bypass some DNA lesions such as abasic site and acetylaminofluorene-adducted guanine in an error-prone manner [3].
• Moreover Polk-deficient mouse embryonic stem and fibroblast cells, both of which have previously been shown to be sensitive to UV radiation, also showed moderate sensitivity to methyl methanesulfonate, a monofunctional alkylating agent [4].
• The mouse Polk gene is developmentally regulated in testis and utilizes two transcription start sites during spermatogenesis, while it utilizes only one site in tissues other than testis [5].

Biological context of Polk

• Mutation rates at two expanded simple tandem repeat (ESTR) loci were studied in the germline of DNA polymerase kappa (Polkappa(-/-)) deficient mice [6].

Anatomical context of Polk

• The short-term hepatic effects of DINP (CAS 68515-48-0, designated DINP-1) in rats and mice were evaluated at tumorigenic and nontumorigenic doses from previous chronic studies [7].

Associations of Polk with chemical compounds

• To extend these observations, three other commercial phthalate ester plasticizers, di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di-isohexyl phthalate (DIHP), and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), were assessed using the same protocol [8].
• In summary, treatment with DEHP, DINP, DIHP, and BBP did not result in significant elevations in total serum IgE, IL-4, or IL-13 [8].
• The esters tested were: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di-¿n-hexyl, n-octyl, n-decyl¿ phthalate (610P), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), di-¿heptyl, nonyl, undecyl¿ phthalate (711P), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and di-undecyl phthalate (DUP) [9].

Other interactions of Polk

• During the autumn of 1993, a focal outbreak was reported from Lee (5 cases) and Collier (3) Counties in southwest Florida. During the autumn of 1997, sporadic transmission to nine humans was reported from five Florida counties (Brevard [1 case], Polk [3], Charlotte [1], Lee [2], and Palm Beach [2]) [10].
• The absence of DNA polymerase kappa does not affect somatic hypermutation of the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain gene [11].

References