DNA Polymerase 1

Prokaryotes, such as bacteria, possess an enzyme called DNA polymerase I, sometimes known as Pol I, which plays a role in the replication and repair of DNA. Since it was the first DNA polymerase to be found and examined, it is known as “DNA polymerase 1”. Arthur Kornberg along with other researchers discovered it in Escherichia coli (E. coli) for the first time in the 1950s.

Despite possessing a lesser processivity than DNA polymerase III, it is still an essential enzyme for correct DNA replication and maintaining the genomic integrity because of its exonuclease activity. Some of its characteristics are:

• 5′ to 3′ Exonuclease Activity: During DNA replication on the strand that precedes it, Pol I is able to eliminate primers made of RNA from the Okazaki fragments by performing this activity.
• DNA Repair Function: It is an essential part of the base excision repair (BER) procedure, which repairs defective or damaged bases in the DNA sequence.
• Low Processivity: Due of Pol I’s less effective processivity, it tends to be detached from the DNA template more often during replication.

Difference Between DNA Polymerase 1, 2, And 3: DNA polymerase is an extended group of enzymes that is vital to the replication and repair of DNA ,from simple bacteria to huge eukaryotes. Enzymes such as these use an existing DNA template to initiate the formation of new DNA strands. During cell division and DNA repair, they are essential in maintaining the stability and integrity of the genetic material. Their exact and effective DNA synthesis provides accurate genetic information transmission to succeeding generations and supports the genomic stability required for normal functioning of cells. Different species have a variety of DNA polymerases, each of which serves a particular purpose in the replication, repair, and other DNA-related processes.