Translesion DNA synthesis represents the ability of a DNA polymerase to incorporate and extend beyond damaged DNA. In this report, the mechanism and dynamics by which the Escherichia coli Klenow fragment performs translesion DNA synthesis during the misreplication of an abasic site were investigated using a series of natural and non-natural nucleotides. Like most other high fidelity DNA polymerases, the Klenow fragment follows the “A-rule” of translesion DNA synthesis by preferentially incorporating dATP opposite the non-instructional lesion. However, several 5-substituted indolyl nucleotides lacking classical hydrogen-bonding groups are incorporated ~100-fold more efficiently than the natural nucleotide. In general, analogs that contain large substituent groups in conjunction with significant π-electron density display the highest catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) forincorporation. While the measured Km values depend upon the size and π-electron density of the incoming nucleotide, kcat values are surprisingly independent of both biophysical features. As expected, the efficiency by which these non-natural nucleotides are incorporated opposite templating nucleobases is significantly reduced. This reduction reflects minimal increases in Km values coupled with large decreases in kcat. The kinetic data obtained with the Klenow fragment are compared to that of the high fidelity bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase and reveal distinct differences in the dynamics by which these non-natural nucleotides are incorporated opposite an abasic site. These biophysical differences argue against a unified mechanism of translesion DNA synthesis and suggest that polymerases employ different catalytic strategies during the misreplication of damaged DNA.

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