POLDIP3 was initially identified as a DNA polymerase delta (Pol δ) interacting protein almost twenty years ago. Intriguingly, it also interacts with proteins involved in a variety of RNA related biological processes, such as transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA export, and translation. Studies in recent years revealed that POLDIP3 also plays critical roles in disassembling genome wide R-loop formation and activating the DNA damage checkpoint in vivo. Here, we review the functions of POLDIP3 in various RNA and DNA related cellular processes. We then propose a unified model to illustrate how POLDIP3 plays such a versatile role at the crossroad of the RNA and DNA metabolism.
Keywords: DNA damage response; DNA replication; POLDIP3; R-loops; mRNA export; pre-mRNA splicing; transcription; translation.