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Open data
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Basic information
| Entry | Database: PDB / ID: 9ekb | |||||||||
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| Title | Cryo-EM structure of apo-form human DNA polymerase delta | |||||||||
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Keywords | REPLICATION / DNA polymerase delta / human / cryo-EM | |||||||||
| Function / homology | Function and homology informationdelta DNA polymerase complex / DNA synthesis involved in UV-damage excision repair / zeta DNA polymerase complex / nucleotide-excision repair complex / Cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly / nucleotide-excision repair, DNA gap filling / 3'-5'-DNA exonuclease activity / Polymerase switching / Telomere C-strand (Lagging Strand) Synthesis / Processive synthesis on the lagging strand ...delta DNA polymerase complex / DNA synthesis involved in UV-damage excision repair / zeta DNA polymerase complex / nucleotide-excision repair complex / Cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly / nucleotide-excision repair, DNA gap filling / 3'-5'-DNA exonuclease activity / Polymerase switching / Telomere C-strand (Lagging Strand) Synthesis / Processive synthesis on the lagging strand / DNA replication proofreading / Removal of the Flap Intermediate / Processive synthesis on the C-strand of the telomere / Polymerase switching on the C-strand of the telomere / Mismatch repair (MMR) directed by MSH2:MSH3 (MutSbeta) / Mismatch repair (MMR) directed by MSH2:MSH6 (MutSalpha) / Removal of the Flap Intermediate from the C-strand / Hydrolases; Acting on ester bonds; Exodeoxyribonucleases producing 5'-phosphomonoesters / aggresome / DNA biosynthetic process / error-free translesion synthesis / DNA strand elongation involved in DNA replication / DNA synthesis involved in DNA repair / PCNA-Dependent Long Patch Base Excision Repair / fatty acid homeostasis / error-prone translesion synthesis / mismatch repair / response to UV / base-excision repair, gap-filling / positive regulation of endothelial cell proliferation / Gap-filling DNA repair synthesis and ligation in GG-NER / Termination of translesion DNA synthesis / Recognition of DNA damage by PCNA-containing replication complex / HDR through Homologous Recombination (HRR) / Dual Incision in GG-NER / DNA-templated DNA replication / Dual incision in TC-NER / Gap-filling DNA repair synthesis and ligation in TC-NER / cellular response to UV / 4 iron, 4 sulfur cluster binding / protein-macromolecule adaptor activity / DNA-directed DNA polymerase / damaged DNA binding / DNA-directed DNA polymerase activity / DNA replication / DNA repair / nucleotide binding / chromatin binding / enzyme binding / DNA binding / zinc ion binding / nucleoplasm / nucleus / membrane / cytoplasm / cytosol Similarity search - Function | |||||||||
| Biological species | Homo sapiens (human) | |||||||||
| Method | ELECTRON MICROSCOPY / single particle reconstruction / cryo EM / Resolution: 3.65 Å | |||||||||
Authors | Murakami, K.S. / Shin, Y. | |||||||||
| Funding support | United States, 2items
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Citation | Journal: J Biol Chem / Year: 2025Title: Cryo-EM structure of apo-form human DNA polymerase δ elucidates its minimal DNA synthesis activity without PCNA. Authors: Yeonoh Shin / Mark Hedglin / Katsuhiko S Murakami / ![]() Abstract: DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) is a key enzyme in eukaryotic DNA replication and genome maintenance, essential for lagging strand synthesis, leading strand initiation, and DNA repair. While human Pol δ ...DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) is a key enzyme in eukaryotic DNA replication and genome maintenance, essential for lagging strand synthesis, leading strand initiation, and DNA repair. While human Pol δ exhibits high activity and processivity in its holoenzyme form complexed with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), it shows minimal DNA synthesis activity without PCNA, the molecular basis of which remains unclear. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of the apo-form human Pol δ, comprising the catalytic subunit p125 and regulatory subunits p66, p50, and p12, at an overall resolution of 3.65 Å. We identified an acidic α-helix at the N terminus of p125, which occupies the single-stranded DNA-binding cavity within the polymerase domain in the apo-form Pol δ. This interaction likely inhibits DNA binding in the absence of PCNA, explaining the low activity of apo-form Pol δ. The acidic α-helix is absent in yeast Pol δ, providing a molecular explanation for species-specific differences in PCNA-independent Pol δ activity. These findings provide critical insights into the regulatory mechanisms of Pol δ and its reliance on PCNA for efficient DNA synthesis. | |||||||||
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Structure visualization
| Structure viewer | Molecule: Molmil Jmol/JSmol |
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Downloads & links
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Download
| PDBx/mmCIF format | 9ekb.cif.gz | 321.9 KB | Display | PDBx/mmCIF format |
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| PDB format | pdb9ekb.ent.gz | 244.9 KB | Display | PDB format |
| PDBx/mmJSON format | 9ekb.json.gz | Tree view | PDBx/mmJSON format | |
| Others | Other downloads |
-Validation report
| Summary document | 9ekb_validation.pdf.gz | 1.5 MB | Display | wwPDB validaton report |
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| Full document | 9ekb_full_validation.pdf.gz | 1.5 MB | Display | |
| Data in XML | 9ekb_validation.xml.gz | 58.7 KB | Display | |
| Data in CIF | 9ekb_validation.cif.gz | 88.3 KB | Display | |
| Arichive directory | https://data.pdbj.org/pub/pdb/validation_reports/ek/9ekb ftp://data.pdbj.org/pub/pdb/validation_reports/ek/9ekb | HTTPS FTP |
-Related structure data
| Related structure data | ![]() 48117MC M: map data used to model this data C: citing same article ( |
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| Similar structure data | Similarity search - Function & homology F&H Search |
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Links
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Assembly
| Deposited unit | ![]()
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Components
-Protein , 1 types, 1 molecules A
| #1: Protein | Mass: 123785.922 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Homo sapiens (human) / Gene: POLD1, POLD / Plasmid: pET-POLD4/1 / Details (production host): Amp resistant / Production host: ![]() References: UniProt: P28340, DNA-directed DNA polymerase, Hydrolases; Acting on ester bonds; Exodeoxyribonucleases producing 5'-phosphomonoesters |
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-DNA polymerase delta subunit ... , 3 types, 3 molecules BCD
| #2: Protein | Mass: 51338.168 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Homo sapiens (human) / Gene: POLD2 / Plasmid: pGBM-POLD2/3 / Details (production host): streptomycin resistant / Production host: ![]() |
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| #3: Protein | Mass: 51486.359 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Homo sapiens (human) / Gene: POLD3, KIAA0039 / Plasmid: pGBM-POLD2/3 / Details (production host): streptomycin resistant / Production host: ![]() |
| #4: Protein | Mass: 13409.202 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Details: C-terminal His6 tag was added from pET20(+) vector by inserting PolD4 gene at NdelI-XhoI digested sites Source: (gene. exp.) Homo sapiens (human) / Gene: POLD4, POLDS / Plasmid: pET-POLD4/1 / Details (production host): Amp resistant / Production host: ![]() |
-Non-polymers , 2 types, 2 molecules 


| #5: Chemical | ChemComp-ZN / |
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| #6: Chemical | ChemComp-SF4 / |
-Details
| Has ligand of interest | Y |
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| Has protein modification | N |
-Experimental details
-Experiment
| Experiment | Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY |
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| EM experiment | Aggregation state: PARTICLE / 3D reconstruction method: single particle reconstruction |
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Sample preparation
| Component | Name: Human DNA polymerase delta / Type: COMPLEX / Details: Apo-form of the Human DNA polymerase delta / Entity ID: #1-#4 / Source: RECOMBINANT |
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| Molecular weight | Value: 0.240692 MDa / Experimental value: NO |
| Source (natural) | Organism: Homo sapiens (human) |
| Source (recombinant) | Organism: ![]() |
| Buffer solution | pH: 7.5 Details: 10 mM HEPES-NaOH (pH 7.5), 120 mM NaCl, 2 % glycerol, 8 mM of CHAPSO |
| Buffer component | Conc.: 10 mM / Name: Hepes / Formula: Hepes-NaOH |
| Specimen | Conc.: 1.44 mg/ml / Embedding applied: NO / Shadowing applied: NO / Staining applied: NO / Vitrification applied: YES Details: glow-discharged C-Flat Holey Carbon grid (CF-2/1-4Cu-50) |
| Specimen support | Grid material: COPPER / Grid mesh size: 400 divisions/in. / Grid type: Quantifoil |
| Vitrification | Instrument: FEI VITROBOT MARK IV / Cryogen name: ETHANE / Humidity: 100 % / Chamber temperature: 277.15 K |
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Electron microscopy imaging
| Experimental equipment | ![]() Model: Titan Krios / Image courtesy: FEI Company |
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| Microscopy | Model: TFS KRIOS |
| Electron gun | Electron source: FIELD EMISSION GUN / Accelerating voltage: 300 kV / Illumination mode: OTHER |
| Electron lens | Mode: OTHER / Nominal magnification: 81000 X / Nominal defocus max: 2500 nm / Nominal defocus min: 1000 nm / Cs: 2.7 mm |
| Specimen holder | Cryogen: NITROGEN |
| Image recording | Electron dose: 50 e/Å2 / Film or detector model: GATAN K3 (6k x 4k) / Num. of real images: 6915 |
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Processing
| EM software | Name: PHENIX / Version: dev_5330 / Category: model refinement |
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| CTF correction | Type: PHASE FLIPPING AND AMPLITUDE CORRECTION |
| 3D reconstruction | Resolution: 3.65 Å / Resolution method: FSC 0.143 CUT-OFF / Num. of particles: 114792 / Num. of class averages: 1 / Symmetry type: POINT |
| Refinement | Cross valid method: NONE |
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Homo sapiens (human)
United States, 2items
Citation
PDBj









FIELD EMISSION GUN