Insights into the cellular role of enigmatic DNA polymerase iota.

It has been a decade since the discovery of human DNA polymerase iota (poliota). Since that time, the enzyme has been characterized extensively at the biochemical level, but the cellular function of poliota remains enigmatic. Recent studies on poliota have, however, provided much needed insights into its biological role(s) and suggest that the enzyme plays important functions in protecting humans from the deleterious consequences of exposure to both oxidative- and ultraviolet light-induced DNA damage.