Complex formation with Rev1 enhances the proficiency of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA polymerase ζ for mismatch extension and for extension opposite from DNA lesions

Rev1, a Y family DNA polymerase (Pol) functions together with Polζ, a B family Pol comprised of the Rev3 catalytic subunit and Rev7 accessory subunit, in promoting translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Extensive genetic studies with Saccharomyces cerevisiae have indicated a requirement of both Polζ and Rev1 for damage-induced mutagenesis, implicating their involvement in mutagenic TLS. Polζ is specifically adapted to promote the extension step of lesion bypass, as it proficiently extends primer termini opposite DNA lesions, and it is also a proficient extender of mismatched primer termini on undamaged DNAs. Since TLS through UV-induced lesions and various other DNA lesions does not depend upon the DNA-synthetic activity of Rev1, Rev1 must contribute to Polζ-dependent TLS in a nonenzymatic way. Here, we provide evidence for the physical association of Rev1 with Polζ and show that this binding is mediated through the C terminus of Rev1 and the polymerase domain of Rev3. Importantly, a rev1 mutant that lacks the C-terminal 72 residues which inactivate interaction with Rev3 exhibits the same high degree of UV sensitivity and defectiveness in UV-induced mutagenesis as that conferred by the rev1Δ mutation. We propose that Rev1 binding to Polζ is indispensable for the targeting of Polζ to the replication fork stalled at a DNA lesion. In addition to this structural role, Rev1 binding enhances the proficiency of Polζ for the extension of mismatched primer termini on undamaged DNAs and for the extension of primer termini opposite DNA lesions.