Multiple PolK (POLK) transcripts in mammalian testis

The Y-family of DNA polymerases are capable of translesion synthesis both in vitro and in vivo. The mouse/human gene (Polκ/POLK) that encodes the Y-family member Polk is highly expressed in mouse/human testis. Using RT-PCR to amplify the coding sequence of the PolK gene, 11 forms of mouse PolK and 5 forms of human POLK transcripts were identified from testis. This phenomenon is apparently specific to PolK since several other specialized DNA polymerases capable of TLS do not express functional alternative transcripts in the testis. The multiple mouse/human (PolK/POLK) transcripts may encode multiple Polκ isoforms in testis.