Nucleic acid polymerase

Nucleic acid polymerases are a broad class of enzymes responsible for the template-dependent synthesis of nucleic acid polymers, including both DNA and RNA. These enzymes include DNA polymerases (synthesize DNA from DNA), RNA polymerases (synthesize RNA from DNA), reverse transcriptases (synthesize DNA from RNA), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (synthesize RNA from RNA)[10]. They play fundamental roles in DNA replication, DNA repair, transcription, and reverse transcription, ensuring genetic information is maintained and expressed in all domains of life as well as viruses[8][10][3][6]. Structurally, DNA polymerases share a characteristic "right-hand" configuration with palm, fingers, and thumb subdomains[1]. They are classified into several families (A, B, C, D, X, Y, RT, and sometimes PrimPol/AEP), each adapted to specific tasks such as high-fidelity replication, repair, or damage tolerance[1][2][5][8]. RNA polymerases in prokaryotes consist of a single multi-subunit enzyme, whereas in eukaryotes, there are distinct forms (e.g., RNA Pol I, II, III) for different RNA classes[6]. Nucleic acid polymerases are prominent therapeutic targets, especially in the treatment of viral infections (HIV, hepatitis viruses, herpesviruses) and cancer. Many drugs inhibit polymerase activity by acting as substrate mimics (nucleoside analogs), causing chain termination or catalysis inhibition[8]. Note: "Nucleic acid polymerases" is a functional class, not a single molecular target, and includes multiple distinct enzymatic entities (e.g., DNA polymerase δ, HIV reverse transcriptase, RNA polymerase II). For structured data, it is preferable to catalog and map specific polymerase types to their corresponding genes/proteins. Caveats: - This entry represents an entire enzyme superfamily, not a single canonical molecule. The name is overly broad for purposes requiring gene/protein-specific targeting and should be refined for more accurate structure, pharmacology, and disease role mapping. - There is no universally accepted abbreviation, and definitive aliases or biomarker associations are only available at the level of individual polymerase enzymes[3][8][10]. - Safety, disease roles, and mechanism of action depend on the specific polymerase targeted.

Other names

DNA polymeraseRNA polymerasereverse transcriptaseRNA-dependent RNA polymerasepolymerase

Chain termination by nucleoside analog incorporation; Inhibition of nucleotide binding or catalysis; Allosteric inhibition; Inducing lethal mutagenesis.