Impact of the DNA polymerase Theta on the DNA replication program

The physiological function of the human DNA polymerase theta (pol theta) is still unclear despite its in vitro translesion synthesis capacity during DNA damage repair process. However this DNA polymerase is always present along the cell cycle in the absence of replication stress and DNA damage. Is there a different molecular function? We present the genomic data of replication timing in depleted pol theta cells (GSE49693) and in cells overexpressing pol theta (GSE53070) indicating that Pol theta holds a novel role in the absence of external stress as a critical determinant of the replication timing program in human cells. (c) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.