• Science, Volume 391, Issue 6787, Page 818-824, February 2026.
Article Summaries:
- Summary
The study investigates how DNA error‑correction mechanisms evolved under selective pressure for rapid replication. Using comparative genomics and kinetic analyses across diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes, the authors identify a previously uncharacterized proofreading subunit that enhances replication speed while maintaining fidelity. Structural modeling shows this subunit reduces the pause time of polymerases at mismatches, allowing faster genome duplication without increasing mutation rates. The work also links the emergence of this subunit to the expansion of high‑GC genomes, suggesting a co‑evolution of replication speed and genome composition. These findings refine our understanding of the balance between replication efficiency and genomic integrity.
Sources: