POLK
Description
The POLK (DNA polymerase kappa) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 5.
DNA polymerase kappa is a DNA polymerase that in humans is encoded by the POLK gene. It is involved in translesion synthesis.
DNA polymerase kappa is specifically involved in DNA repair, playing a critical role in translesion synthesis. This process occurs when standard high-fidelity DNA polymerases encounter damaged DNA and are unable to continue replication. DNA polymerase kappa can bypass these lesions, inserting the correct base in some instances but also causing frequent base transitions, transversions, and frameshifts. It lacks 3'-5' proofreading exonuclease activity, making it error-prone. Additionally, it forms a Schiff base with 5'-deoxyribose phosphate at abasic sites but lacks lyase activity. This protein has been shown to interact with REV1 and PCNA.
POLK is also known as DINB1, DINP, POLQ.
