A Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein Isolated from HeLa Cells Facilitates Ni2+ Activation of DNA Polymerases in vitro

The divalent nickel ion (Ni2+) is one of several metal ions that can substitute for Mg2+ in the activation of DNA polymerases in vitro, but usually with very low efficiency. We have purified and partially characterized a Ni(2+)-binding protein (p40) from HeLa cell extracts that can specifically enhance the polymerase activity of DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha) and other DNA polymerases in response to Ni2+. This protein, with a molecular mass of 40 kDa, is a single stranded DNA binding protein that binds to a M13 DNA template-primer with an optimum stoichiometry of approximately 90 equiv of protein per equiv of DNA template and enhances the affinity of pol alpha for the primer-template. In the presence of Ni2+, p40 exhibits an increased affinity for DNA. The p40 increased by 3- to 6-fold the rates at which pol alpha and the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (KF) replicate different DNA templates in response to Ni2+. The low processivity of Ni(2+)-activated pol on primed M13 ssDNA was also enhanced by the presence of p40. The rates of Ni(2+)-dependent replication by inherently more processive enzymes, DNA polymerase delta and T4 DNA polymerase, were not significantly increased by p40 when M13 ssDNA was used as a template; however, p40 did increase the activity of T4 polymerase on an activated calf thymus DNA template. The protein did not stimulate Mg(2+)-activated DNA replication.