Interacting Fidelity Defects in the Replicative DNA Polymerase of Bacteriophage RB69

Abstract The DNA polymerases (gp43s) of the related bacteriophages T4 and RB69 are B family (polymerase α class) enzymes that determine the fidelity of phage DNA replication. A T4 whose gene 43 has been mutationally inactivated can be replicated by a cognate RB69 gp43 encoded by a recombinant plasmid in T4-infected Escherichia coli. We used this phage-plasmid complementation assay to obtain rapid and sensitive measurements of the mutational specificities of mutator derivatives of the RB69 enzyme. RB69 gp43s lacking proofreading function (Exo− enzymes) and/or substituted with alanine, serine, or threonine at the conserved polymerase function residue Tyr567(PolY567(A/S/T) enzymes) were examined for their effects on the reversion of specific mutations in the T4 rII gene and on forward mutation in the T4 rI gene. The results reveal that Tyr567 is a key determinant of the fidelity of base selection and that the Pol and Exo functions are strongly coupled in this B family enzyme. In vitro assays show that the PolY567A Exo− enzyme generates mispairs more frequently but extends them less efficiently than does a Pol+ Exo− enzyme. Other replicative DNA polymerases may control fidelity by strategies similar to those used by RB69 gp43.