Evolutionary conservation of DNA polymerase beta structure.

An immunological procedure that uses antiserum against homogeneous calf thymus DNA polymerase beta to detect immunoreactive peptides on NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrates a high degree of conservation of protein sequence and molecular weight for this enzyme, from parastic protozoans to man. By renaturation of DNA polymerase activity in situ after electrophoresis, the enzymatically active peptides are shown to correspond to the immunoreactive peptides. The persistence of sequence and molecular weight for the catalytic peptide of DNA polymerase beta through eons of evolutionary time suggests an essential role for this enzyme in DNA metabolism of complex cells.