High impact information on DNAprim

• The largest subunit has DNA polymerase activity, the two smallest subunits have DNA primase activity, and the function of the 68-kDa subunit is unknown [1].
• PLP also inhibits DNA primase activity of the DNA polymerase alpha complex, and primase activity can be protected from PLP inhibition by nucleotide alone, arguing that PLP site 1 lies within the DNA primase active site [2].
• In a mutagenesis screen for suppressors of the fat facets (faf) mutant eye phenotype, we identified mutations in DNAprim [3].
• The DNA sequences of four DNAprim alleles were determined and these define essential protein domains [3].
• The Drosophila DNAprim gene encodes the large subunit (60 kD) of DNA primase, the part of DNA polymerase alpha that synthesizes RNA primers during DNA replication [3].

Biological context of DNAprim

• We show that while flies lacking DNAprim activity are lethal, flies with reduced DNAprim activity display morphological defects in their eyes, and unlike faf mutants, cell cycle abnormalities in larval eye discs [3].
• Mechanisms by which DNA primase levels might influence the faf-dependent cell communication pathway are discussed [3].
• We have cloned the gene for the large subunit of the DNA primase from Drosophila melanogaster, and mapped it to position 77b on chromosome 3 [4].

Other interactions of DNAprim

• Genetic analysis of the Drosophila DNAprim gene. The function of the 60-kd primase subunit of DNA polymerase opposes the fat facets signaling pathway in the developing eye [3].

References