Recombinant Human DNA polymerase kappa (POLK), Truncated

Uniprot Id

Q9UBT6

Target Species

Human

Target Name

POLK

Target Full Name

DNA polymerase kappa

Target Function

DNA polymerase specifically involved in DNA repair. Plays an important role in translesion synthesis, where the normal high-fidelity DNA polymerases cannot proceed and DNA synthesis stalls. Depending on the context, it inserts the correct base, but causes frequent base transitions, transversions and frameshifts. Lacks 3'-5' proofreading exonuclease activity. Forms a Schiff base with 5'-deoxyribose phosphate at abasic sites, but does not have lyase activity.

Target Subcellular Location

Nucleus.

Target Protein Families

DNA polymerase type-Y family

Target Tissue Specificity

Detected at low levels in testis, spleen, prostate and ovary. Detected at very low levels in kidney, colon, brain, heart, liver, lung, placenta, pancreas and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Target Synonyms

DinB homolog 1 (E. coli); DINB protein; DINB1; DINP; DNA damage inducible protein b; DNA polymerase kappa; Polk; POLK_HUMAN; POLQ; Polymerase (DNA directed) kappa; polymerase, DNA, kappa

Target Background

This gene encodes a member of the DNA polymerase type-Y family of proteins. The encoded protein is a specialized DNA polymerase that catalyzes translesion DNA synthesis, which allows DNA replication in the presence of DNA lesions. Human cell lines lacking a functional copy of this gene exhibit impaired genome integrity and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative damage. Mutations in this gene that impair enzyme activity may be associated with prostate cancer in human patients.