DNA polymerase III holoenzyme

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward the 5 previously unknown genes, for subunits δ, δ′, χ, θ, and ψ, of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, and toward a unique man-made enzyme containing 5, preferably 6, protein subunits which shows the same activity as the naturally occurring 10 protein subunit DNA polymerase III holoenzyme.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A genetic sequence for an isolated subunit for a DNA polymerase III gene selected from the subunit group consisting of δ, δ′, χ, θ, and ψ genes.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated and purified enzyme showing the activity of the 10 subunit DNA polymerase III holoenzyme which contains only the polymerase peptide subunits for α, ε, β, δ, and γ subunits of the naturally occurring holoenzyme.  
     
     
         3 . The enzyme according to  claim 2  which further contains the polymerase peptide subunit δ′ of the naturally occurring holoenzyme.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated and purified peptide selected from the group of the δ, δ′, χ, θ, and ψ DNA polymerase III holoenzyme peptides.