Ultraviolet radiation causes damage to DNA in skin cells, blocking DNA replication and causing mutations that can lead to cancer. One way in which the cell deals with such damage involves specialized DNA polymerases, such as Polη, that can bypass lesions. Here the crystal structure is presented of Pol? in complex with a thymine–thymine dimer and with undamaged DNA. The bulky thymine dimer is accommodated in an atypically large active site, and stabilized by interactions not found in other polymerases.
- Timothy D. Silverstein
- Robert E. Johnson
- Aneel K. Aggarwal
