POLK belongs to the DNA polymerase type-Y family. It contains 2 Rad18-type zinc fingers and 1 umuC domain. POLK is a DNA polymerase specifically involved in DNA repair. It plays an important role in translesion synthesis, where the normal high-fidelity DNA polymerases cannot proceed and DNA synthesis stalls. Depending on the context, it inserts the correct base, but causes frequent base transitions, transversions and frameshifts. It lacks 3'-5' proofreading exonuclease activity. POLK forms a Schiff base with 5'-deoxyribose phosphate at abasic sites, but does not have lyase activity.
Intended for research use only. Not for use in human, therapeutic, or diagnostic applications.