Journal of Molecular Biology Archimer, archive institutionnelle de l’Ifremer Article in Press http://www.ifremer.fr/docelec/ Acceptation date : 5 October 2007 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2007.10.015 © 2007 Elsevier ailable on the publisher Web site The heterodimeric primase from the Euryarchaea Pyrococcus abyssi: a multifunctional enzyme for initiation and repair ? Magali Le Breton1, Ghislaine Henneke1, Cédric Norais2, Didier Flament1, Hannu Myllykallio2, Joël Querellou1 and Jean-Paul Raffin1,∗. 1. Ifremer, UMR6197, Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, BP 70, F-29280 blisher-authenticated version is av Plouzané, France. 2. Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, UMR8621, Université Paris-sud, 91405 Orsay, France ∗Corresponding author: Jean Paul Raffin, Ifremer, Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France. Phone: 33(0)2 98 22 45 39 ;
[email protected] Abstract: We report the characterization of the DNA primase complex of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus abyssi (Pab). The Pab DNA primase complex is composed of two proteins, Pabp41 and Pabp46, showing sequence similarities respectively to the p49 and p58 subunits of the eukaryotic polymerase α-primase complex. Both subunits were expressed, purified and characterized. The Pabp41 subunit alone had no RNA synthesis activity but could synthesize long (up to 3 kb) DNA strands. Addition of the Pabp46 subunit increased the rate of DNA synthesis but decreased the length of the DNA fragments synthesized and conferred RNA synthesis capability. Moreover, in our experimental conditions, Pab DNA primase had comparable affinities for ribo- and ccepted for publication following peer review. The definitive pu deoxyribonucleotides, and its activity was dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+.