Deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase from Physarum polycephalum. Properties of the major cytoplasmic activity in exponentially growing microplasmodia.

DNA polymerase was purified 1000-fold from the cytoplasm of microplasmodia of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum. The activity was found in two forms exhibiting molecular weights of 204000 and 116000 respectively. Both forms eluted together from DNA-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex columns. The Stokes radii were 6.5 and 5.5 nm. The sedimentation coefficients were 7.6 and 5.2 S. The frictional ratios of 1.69 suggest a highly hydrated and/or an asymmetric structure of the molecule. The enzyme-catalyzed reaction was sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide (60% inhibition by 1 mM). Unlike DNA polymerase alpha from mammalian cells the Physarum enzyme was stimulated by 30 mM NaCl. Activated DNA was the preferred template. Poly(A) . (DT)12 was not accepted. The Km value for deoxynucleoside triphosphates was 3 micron, for activated DNA 50 microgram/ml and for Mg2+ at the optimum [k+] of 150 mM about 0.6 mM.