Fig. 9

Comparison with bacterial complexes for synthesis and editing modes. a Form A of the archaeal complex. Each protein component is indicated and DNA is shown dark blue. E171, the proposed hook, is highlighted by magenta. b The atomic model of the bacterial PolIII (α–ε–τ)-β clamp complex in the synthesis mode from PDB: 5FKV [29]. The α and ε subunits are shown in purple and pink, respectively, and the OB-domain in the α subunit is highlighted by light blue. DNA was shown in dark blue. The two subunits of β clamp are shown in orange and yellow, and E276, the candidate residue of the hook on each subunit, is shown by magenta. The clamp binding motifs, corresponding to the bacterial PIP, of α and ε were shown in green balls and sticks. c Form B of the archaeal complex. The path to the exonuclease active site is indicated by the broken red line. d The atomic model of the bacterial PolIII α–ε–θ complex in the editing mode on the β clamp from PDB: 5M1S [30]. The complex undergoes a large structural conversion from the synthesis mode. The colors indicate the same components as in (b). The θ subunit is shown in green and E276 is highlighted by magenta