The interaction between ubiquitin and yeast polymerase η C-terminus does not require the UBZ domain.

Polymerase eta (Pol eta) is one of the Y-family polymerases that is recruited by monoubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ub-PCNA) to DNA damage sites during translesion synthesis (TLS). This interaction is mediated by an ubiquitin-binding zinc-finger (UBZ) domain and a PCNA-interacting protein (PIP) box in Pol eta, which binds to ubiquitin and PCNA, respectively. Here, we show that without the UBZ domain, the PIP box of yeast Pol eta has a novel binding function with ubiquitin. Furthermore, the UBZ domain and the PIP box share the same binding surfaces for ubiquitin. The interaction with ubiquitin via the PIP box stabilizes the Ub-PCNA/Pol eta complex. Moreover, the PIP residues I624 and L625 contribute to Pol eta function in TLS in vivo.